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March 3, 2024

Third Sunday of Lent

Let us pray for our leaders in the Church. May we invite others to join us in seeking the foolishness of God. May Lent bring us hope in the dying and rising of Christ Jesus.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for the end of needless violence. May we lay our guns at the feet of peace. May we kneel before righteousness and be humbled in the awesomeness of life.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for people facing the violence of rough weather. May flood waters recede and fires be extinguished. May droughts be watered in hope that winter will bring the beauty of new growth.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for all who labor behind the scenes of life. May plumbers, electricians, snow removal and maintenance crews and problem solvers not be left out of our gratitude. May we all work together for the common good.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for our Elect this Lent. May our common journey to baptism stir waters of joy and commitment in Christ Jesus. May we not lose our way to love on earth and life beyond the grave.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for healthcare workers and those who bring healing to aching bodies. May our pain be eased by the knowledge and bedside manner of those who care for us.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for our families during this Lenten journey. May we sort through life’s frustrations and mend relationships in Christ Jesus. May God heal all our earthly needs.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray to courageously stand for children who have been abused. May our systems of child protection speak for the welfare of our next generation.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for people who are mistreated. Let us speak out when others take advantage of the vulnerable, when our poor are neglected, when our homeless are shunned.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for our beloved dead. May we all journey toward the mountain of eternal life. May freedom ring in us for all eternity.

We pray to the Lord.

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Sunday February 25, 2024

Second Sunday of Lent

For all who journey to Christ in these Lenten days. May our elect prepare with hope for Easter sacraments. May they discover compassion and at the baptismal font and awe at the sacred altar of the Eucharist.

We pray to the Lord.

For all who model faith to others in the Church. May bishops, women leaders, teachers and confessors, reveal God’s fidelity among the marginalized and the lost.

We pray to the Lord.

For a new vision of Christian life. May we follow Christ up the mountain to reveal a new fidelity in the Church. May we seek Christ in all moments along the journey.

We pray to the Lord.

For people who lack confidence and who second-guess themselves. May we not look to the ground but to the sky to discover the wonder of God.  May the glory of God lead us in every aspect of life.

We pray to the Lord.

For all people in nursing homes and hospitals. May the ill find relief of body pain and emotional loss in their journey with Christ Jesus.

We pray to the Lord.

For a new awareness of the earth. May we search mountains and cross rivers with a new understanding of our role to care for every earthly good and gift.

We pray to the Lord.

For children who cannot believe in themselves.  May the shy find a new voice of courage and the oppressed be released in love. May the gifts of all children be known and accepted in family life.

We pray to the Lord.

For music makers, artists who create with their hands, and souls who cannot contain their self-expression. May we see the beauty and joy of our creative spirits. May art enhance our journey along the way to behold the face of God.

We pray to the Lord.

For the good and well-being of our older adults. May our grandparents lean on the shoulders of families who care for them with love and patience.

We pray to the Lord.

For our beloved dead and all who sleep in Christ. May the Light of Christ shine brightly along the path to our eternal home. 

We pray to the Lord.

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“Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return.”

Today, we begin the journey of renewal of our baptism, our second birth in Christ Jesus. In doing so, we remember all the pieces of our lives we leave behind, all the moments that have turned to dust so we can turn more profoundly to Jesus.

Remember past loves and know the dust of loss that leads to new love.

Remember regret and all the aspects of life you cannot change from the past, so to learn from your mistakes.  Remember to surrender more deeply into the freedom of God.

Remember the circumstances, the situations and the encounters where you were not your best self. Allow the dust of the past to give rise to hope in you.

Remember the job loss, the panic over not getting things right, the apprehensions, your lack of courage. Remember all is dust and that your true identity is not attached to any of those things.

Remember the innocence of childhood and the good old days. Remember even the good things give way to living in the present.  Stop clinging and start living today.

Remember how you lived, what you thought, what you were convinced of, what you held on to, and remember all these things are now dust so you may grow more deeply into trusting God.

Remember your journey in this life is beautiful, courageous and filled with hope for tomorrow.

Remember the cross on your forehead becomes your key to your heavenly home.

Sunday February 18, 2024

First Sunday of Lent

For people who face deserts of desperation. May new meaning grow strong in the hearts of people who have lost hope. May Christ reach for the hands of those who stumble.

We pray to the Lord.

For people who survive food deserts. May our children find sufficient food in our urban areas. May the richness of love be known to them.

We pray to the Lord.

For people who travel through deserts of ill health. May the bodies of our loved ones find healing in these days of prayer. May Christ touch the wounds of our aching bodies.

We pray to the Lord.

For people who wait in the desert for Easter sacraments. May our catechumens and candidates find patience and prayer as they wait for full initiation into our Church.

We pray to the Lord.

For people who live amid deserts of despair and emotional turmoil. May our lives and minds be eased in our Lenten journey. May the path to inner freedom be known in the most vulnerable.

We pray to the Lord.

For people who suffer trauma in deserts of abuse. May our adult children who have been sexually or emotionally abused find healing in their minds, hearts, and muscles. May courage be housed in those who wait for lasting healing.

We pray to the Lord.

For people existing in deserts of loneliness and self-hatred. May we reach out to people and build communities of love. May the existence of community heal all people.

We pray to the Lord.

For people who breathe in deserts of shallowness. May we breathe more deeply into our lives to rouse meaning and purpose. May we exhale in faith and give voice to God’s fidelity.

We pray to the Lord.

For people who wait in deserts of dying. May their last breath be without despair. May our beloved friends find new life in their home in heaven.

We pray to the Lord.

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