Third Sunday of Lent, A, March 12, 2023
In the course of her daily activities, the Samaritan woman encountered Jesus and came to recognize him as the Messiah. We offer our prayers to the Father asking for the grace to also encounter his Son in all that we do.
- That as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the election of Pope Francis, the Church may strive to practice the virtues he has advocated: mercy, inclusion of all, fraternity, and care for the earth. We pray to the Lord.
- That nations of the world will hear and respond to the calls of Pope Francis for peace, respect, and freedom of religion that benefit all people. We pray to the Lord.
- That “in these days of Lent, [we] may walk even more courageously in the footsteps of Christ, seeking to imitate his humility and faithfulness to the divine will.”[1] We pray to the Lord.
- That we may join with Pope Francis in thinking of all women as he “thank[s] them for their commitment to building a more humane society, through their ability to grasp reality with a creative eye and a tender heart.”[2] We pray to the Lord.
- That the agreement of nations to protect the world’s oceans will be successful in ensuring the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction for the benefit of current and future generations.[3] We pray to the Lord.
- That the millions of refugees who put their lives at risk fleeing conflicts, persecution, climate change, and poverty may find welcome protection and creative efforts to end the forces that drive them from their homes. We pray to the Lord.
- That those who thirst for water for themselves, their crops, and their livestock may find relief and know the Lord in their midst as did the Israelites at Massah and Meribah. We pray to the Lord.
- That we may follow Jesus’ example of kindness and patience for the Samaritan woman by welcoming all to worship with us so that all may come to know Jesus truly as the savior of the world. We pray to the Lord.
- That the half of the world’s population that relies on wells for its water will use this resource wisely and find supplies that are sufficient and free of contamination. We pray to the Lord.
- That those who have suffered harm from members of the Church may find within the Church herself a concrete response to their pain and suffering.[4] We pray to the Lord.
- That the world which thirsts for justice may find wells of relief where kindness, compassion, and love are valued and practiced. We pray to the Lord.
- That those who are sick and in need of medicine, hospitals, and compassionate care will find wells of life-sustaining water that enable them to know the Lord who is with them. We pray to the Lord.
- That those who have died may never thirst again as they receive the water offered by Jesus that becomes a spring welling up to eternal life. We pray to the Lord.
God our Father, through your answer to our prayers may this Lenten season be a time of grace for us where we come to know Jesus better in the life-giving sacraments that are the wellspring of our faith. We make these prayers through Christ our Lord. Amen.
[1] Pope Francis at his General Audience on March 8, 2023.
[2] Pope Francis at his General Audience on March 8, 2023.
[3] Based on Vatican News Story of March 5, 2023 by Nathan Morley
[4] Intention of Pope Francis for March, 2023.
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