Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, July 23, 2023

Sixteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, July 23, 2023

We offer our prayers to the Father, asking that we might be the righteous who hear the word of God in our minds and our hearts so that we will shine like the sun in his kingdom.   

1. That the might of the Church may be a source of justice that gives all its children good ground for hope that they are permitted repentance for their sins.  We pray to the Lord.
2. That in our weakness, not knowing how to pray as we ought, we will rely on the intercession of the Spirit who searches our hearts according to God’s will.  We pray to the Lord.
3. That in the field that is the Earth, peopled with weeds and wheat, we may be wheat to be gathered into the barn of heaven at the time of harvest.  We pray to the Lord.
4. That when we see ourselves as insignificant members of society, we may be like tiny mustard seeds that are sowed in a field to provide dwelling places for the birds, so that the Lord may cultivate us to be dwelling places where faith is sustained.  We pray to the Lord.    
5. That the Word of the Lord may be like yeast in our lives which provides a leaven of charity, hope, and faith.  We pray to the Lord.  
6. That people around the world who are suffering each day from oppressive heat may find shelter and places of rest where their lives will be sustained.  We pray to the Lord.
7. That weapons will be silenced so that those whose food supplies are threatened by the war in Ukraine will not endure starvation in the coming months.  We pray to the Lord.
8. That children born with disabilities may be welcomed and treasured so that they may thrive and reach their potential as instances of the image of God.  We pray to the Lord.
9. That refugees who are fleeing dangers at home may be kept healthy in body, mind, and spirit as they seek welcome and opportunity in foreign lands.  We pray to the Lord.
10. That our ancestors and those who have preserved the faith that has been passed on to us will rejoice forever in the kingdom of heaven.  We pray to the Lord.

God, our Father, as we ponder the parables of your Son, help us to understand the stories of our own lives and to see in them your presence with us in all we encounter.  We make our prayers through Christ our Lord. Amen.