Fifth Sunday of Lent, A, March 26, 2023
As we encounter the difficulties of this age, we turn to the Father with our needs as Martha and Mary turned to Jesus at the death of their brother, Lazarus.
- That the Church will be an agent of healing that raises humanity above the senseless death throughout the corners of the world where the sickness of violence is prevalent. We pray to the Lord.
- That leaders of the world will not seek alliances that cause them to stumble in the darkness of night but will find ways to walk with allies in the day so that the light of the world may shine forth. We pray to the Lord.
- That first responders and volunteers who have the courage to act in the interest of those in need despite threats of bodily harm will be protected by Jesus who returned to Judea for his friend Lazarus despite the threat of stoning. We pray to the Lord.
- That when we pray for our friends and neighbors, we will have the confidence of Martha and Mary who identified Lazarus as the one Jesus loved, in recognizing Jesus’ love for all people. We pray to the Lord.
- That when we are tempted to join with Martha to complain that our prayers are not being answered in our time frame, we may also have her faith in knowing that God answers us with love according to his will. We pray to the Lord.
- That the tears of sadness that accompany death in Ukraine will be overcome by knowledge of Jesus and faith in the afterlife. We pray to the Lord.
- That the occurrences of earthquakes, cyclones, floods, excessive heat, and droughts will reinforce the commitment of all nations and people to provide environments that minimize the threats to life caused by environmental factors. We pray to the Lord.
- That our witness to our faith will not be diminished by inconsistency between what we believe, what we proclaim, and what we live.[1] We pray to the Lord.
- That as the people took away the stone that blocked the tomb of Lazarus when he was restored to life, doctors and medical professionals will find the strength and wisdom to remove the stones that block the recovery of their patients from their ailments. We pray to the Lord.
- That we may offer prayers for those who have died without brothers or sisters to plead for them remembering that the lonely, the rejected, and the outcasts are among those whom Jesus loves and who will rise in the resurrection on the last day. We pray to the Lord.
Lord our God, we look to you for help and consolation in these waning days of Lent as we pray for the faith to call upon you in our need and look forward to the celebration of the glorious victory of life over death at Easter. We make the
[1] Based on statement of Pope Francis at his audience of March 22, 2023.
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