Second Sunday of Lent, Mar 16, 2025

Second Sunday of Lent, Mar 16, 2025

On this Second Sunday of Lent, we offer our prayers to the Father asking that we will better know his transfigured Son. 

1. That amid the chaos of this world, the Church will remain steadfast and strong in proclaiming the value of human life, the necessity of peace, the importance of fraternity, and the message of the Gospels.  We pray to the Lord.
2. That people in nations torn apart by war may look up at the sky — not peering through smoke or being blinded by missiles — but able to try to count the stars and to see in those stars the vastness of God’s love for all people on Earth.  We pray to the Lord.
3. That those engaging in negotiations to bring peace to Ukraine, Gaza, and elsewhere will put aside all enmity and work for justice, security, and the well-being of the people of their lands.  We pray to the Lord.
4. That the member countries of the United Nations will adhere to its charter principles to practice tolerance and live together in peace as good neighbors, to maintain international peace and security, and to promote the economic and social advancement of all peoples. We pray to the Lord.
5. That our Lenten acts of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving will transform our hearts and minds so that we will better know Jesus as God’s chosen Son and listen to him.  We pray to the Lord.
6. That we will act to make the world a more generous, courteous, and welcoming place for all people so that together we may declare, “Master, it is good that we are here.”  We pray to the Lord.
7. That Pope Francis will be granted wisdom and strength as he recovers from his current illness and serves as a model of humble and gentle leadership that the world craves.  We pray to the Lord. 
8. That those suffering from the recent catastrophic floods in Argentina, and those still recovering from natural disasters no longer in the news, will not lose hope but will receive the help and encouragement needed to re-establish their lives.  We pray to the Lord. 
9. That sectarian violence in Syria, China, Myanmar, and other nations where religious freedom is under attack may subside through recognition that each individual is God’s creation and must be allowed to worship him.  We pray to the Lord.
10. That those fighting hunger, illness, depression, or addiction may find the means to overcome these challenges and receive the courage and grace to live as God wills.  We pray to the Lord.
11. That our ancestors in faith who have died — those we know and those we have never known — will be welcomed into the eternal life of heaven and continue to intercede for us.  We pray to the Lord. 

O God, may the Transfiguration of your Son before Peter, James, and John which we commemorate today enable us to better see your wisdom and love as you answer all our needs.  We make these prayers through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.