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January 14, 2024

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Let us pray for integrity for those who lead us in faith. May Francis, our Pope, and ____, our Bishop, shepherd God’s initiative in us all to pray with courage and to serve with lasting hope.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray to approach God with open hearts and wide imaginations. May God’s presence fill our dreams with integrity. May we seek God with inner freedom.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for genuine peace in this new year. May nations discover authentic hope for their people. May we all work to provide housing, food, and education for the children of war.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray to listen closely for God’s call. May we find in our sleep the vision to serve God and one another. May we discover our vocations of love, kindness and compassion in daylight.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for children who have lost imagination. May we energize our young to understand their path in life. May our youth know the depth of their skills, talents and their desire for a better life.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for people discouraged by politics, world events, and family disputes. May we discover in our communities the richness of relationships and the beauty of one another and the world. May fear about our futures be eased.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for an awakening to God’s fidelity in our hearts. May we take time each day to breathe deeply, to listen to God’s voice, and to be free to know God’s presence within our hearts.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for those whose bodies are in pain. May we help ease the inner pain of loneliness and fear for people who are lost in disease and ill health. May God’s healing be known in our day.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for the souls of our faithful departed. May our loved ones who have died now find the beauty and love of Christ Jesus. May their rest be sure and glorious.

We pray to the Lord.

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Please pray for the sick, the discouraged, the outcast and marginalized on January 6, the Memorial of Saint Andre. For all who desire healing: Saint Andre, pray for us.

January 7, 2024

The Epiphany of the Lord

Let us pray for all who search the night for Christ. May we walk new roads of hope along our journey toward God-with-us. May our hearts ache for communion and mercy along our course.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray to plant harmony and reconciliation deeply within the earth. May peacetime grow in our day, in every nation under heaven. May people devastated by war find strength from people who understand compassion and love.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray to instill joy in our gift giving. May we show up with joyous hearts as we visit the elderly, the sick, the weary. May our presence instill courage for all who are alone in darkness and fear.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray to carry integrity within our hearts for our family and those we love. May we encounter the faces of those we love bearing gifts of compassion and good will.  

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for truthfulness within our Church. May false power be replaced with humble love for all people under heaven. May God’s truth be revealed in our common prayer and tender service toward others.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for people who seldom see the stars. May prisoners find the light of hope in their confinement. May the ill find compassion even when bedridden. May we follow the Light of Christ to every dark corner of the world.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for young people who search for an honest vocation. May all who seek, find. May all who search for Christ discover God’s grace and mercy. May beauty and awe unfold within our children.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for people suffering physical diminishment. May healing be upon the bodies of those who live in pain. May Christ bring gifts of calm and comfort in their nighttime restlessness.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for our beloved dead. May all who have searched on earth for love now be found in heaven’s delight. May our dead see Christ face to face.

We pray to the Lord.

January 1, 2023 (Monday)

Mary, Mother of God

Let us pray for the end of overwhelming violence and war in Ukraine, the Middle-East and in other nations. May the devastation of death, destruction and loss end in this new year. May we entrust the fragility of earthly life to the tender care of Mary, the Mother of God.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for the mission and integrity of the Church. May all who lead us in prayer and service unite all believers in Christ Jesus. May hope be fashioned within us in our new year.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for all mothers, stepmothers, foster mothers, grandmothers and Godmothers on this day of Mary, the Mother of God. May Mary be a source of joy and hope for every household under heaven.

We pray to the Lord. 

Let us pray that the Incarnation of Christ continue to flourish on earth. May we wake up to the needs of our beloved poor. May God’s love be manifest in people who need the basics of life.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for peace in our new year. May families be healed in Christ’s love for them. May the restlessness of our hearts be restored to hope in Christ Jesus.  

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for people who suffer addiction. May people who are lost in alcohol, eating disorders, and pornography find healing and consolation. May Christ release them from fear and bring them to a new life of love.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for our families in the new year. May our children find their true vocations of love in this world. May we learn to love beyond our grievances in family life.  

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for our friends and relatives who are ill. May our loved ones who are experiencing new diagnosis of cancer discover a sufficient course of treatment. May hope be lived in households who care for them.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for our beloved dead. May God receive our loved ones into the everlasting home of heaven. May they be comforted in the face of Christ Jesus.

We pray to the Lord.

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CLICK HERE to read my latest article from The Priest Magazine, January 2024

The Priest Magazine is published by Our Sunday Visitor, Fort Wayne, IN

The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

December 31, 2023

Let us pray for Francis, our Pope, and ____, our Bishop. May all leaders serve the love of God and the dignity of all people on earth. May we dedicate our lives to serve all human life.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for the family of the Church. May we, born of water and the Holy Spirit, be united in the mission of justice and peace, of integrity and hope. May every worshipping community unite for the betterment of the Church and world.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for peace among families in need of reconciliation. May we listen attentively to those whom we have hurt by our words and actions. May love be a healing balm to all families.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for foster families, divorced families, our families of origin and those whom we trust to be our families. May we all find love and courage in this Christmas season. May love heal our loneliness. May we see the face of God in all whom we love.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for the courage to serve people who are different from ourselves. May we welcome families at our borders and encourage families who seek employment and a better life. May hope be found in the wonder of our children.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for families across the world in these times of war and violence. May the utter destruction of war be replaced with hope in the challenges of loss and grief. May we recognize the beauty of all life and humanity.

We pray to the Lord.

Let us pray for children who have been abused. May we bring dignity and courage to our young and may adult children be healed of past violence. May we trust in the loving presence of the Holy Spirit to mend our aching hearts.

We pray to the Lord.

For our elderly who live behind the closed blinds of their rooms. May we not forget those who have loved us in our families and who now need us in their ill-health and aging process.

We pray to the Lord.

For family members who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith. May our beloved dead find eternal happiness and light in the face of Christ Jesus.

We pray to the Lord.

Posted on November 1, 2009

Sock Exchange

Preaching on Christmas Eve frustrates me. I never know how to reach the exhausted, “perfect mother” struggling to bring her newborn baby to Mass because her in-laws insist. The tired father drenched with worry over paying for the family’s gifts strains to hear the evening Gospel. The single relatives back from college often feel most alone on Christmas Eve. The aging parents grieve the loss of Christmas’ past and the recent death of their only daughter. Some people scurry into the church building at the last minute feeling their place is only on the margins of the community anyway.

Christmas evokes mostly tears of loss for me as I look behind people’s smiles and sugar-induced enthusiasm. Behind the red scarves and new neckties lies the reality of people often forcing their way into happiness and love. On Christmas Eve real life comes to the surface when we least expect. I uncovered this authentic life several years ago when I tried a different approach to preaching during the holy Eve of Christmas.

Before Mass, I wrapped three items as gifts to be opened during the homily. I carried the three gifts in a colorful shopping bag and explained I had just received these gifts and wanted to open them at Mass on Christmas Eve. I ripped open the first gift with wide-eyed enthusiasm. My childlike approach revealed a new teddy bear. I reminisced about our sacred memories as children and the holy bonds of family. I spoke softly that Christmas also conjures up memories of grief, loss and unhappiness with many people we love. The grace of Christmas heals the past and makes room for Christ to be born even in our brokenness and sadness.

The second gift revealed a bag of candy. I preached the sweetness of God’s covenant of love even in times of war and uncertainty. After I spoke about each of these first two gifts, I gave each gift to a different stranger sitting in the pews. What you receive as a gift, give as a gift.

I tore off the wrapping paper from the third gift which revealed a pair of nylon socks. The assembly laughed as my face fell and I muttered about getting such an ordinary gift. I told the assembly that the Incarnation demands a lot of work on our part. I explained that Christ was born on earth to reveal the divine and human dignity of all people. I held up the dark socks and begged them to serve people who long for such dignity. The socks called people to action to serve others who go without adequate clothing, food, shelter, purpose and relationships. Walking in the footsteps of the Crucified demands a life commitment for all believers. I handed the pair of black dress socks to a stranger, a stocky, older man sitting at the end of a crowded pew. His rugged features, deep wrinkles and sparkling eyes revealed a man who had obviously made his living working with his hands with diligence and care.

The Advent Gospels prepare us for this holy night. Our hearts cannot weary while we wait for the face of Christ. Anxieties must not catch us by surprise like a trap. Great signs and wonders will tell the story of redemption. After Mass I introduced myself to the working class, kindly man and his wife. She had suddenly begun to feel ill after everyone had left the church. The three of us sat in the pew for a few minutes until her heart felt better and she felt strong enough to leave.

Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy in waiting for the Lord. I was seeing before me a woman making crooked ways straight, waiting for Christ’s promise to be fulfilled. I saw in her eyes the readiness to see the salvation of God. Her heart was preparing to be birthed into eternal Light. I felt drawn to this couple. I knew I had given this man the socks for a reason. I could already feel in our first encounter that our relationship was only just beginning.

A few days later I received a phone call from the gentleman who received the socks. His wife was very ill and in the hospital. I raced over to the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit to find her entire family at her bedside. She looked up at me and whispered to her husband, “It’s the sock-priest.” A few days later she died in her sleep.

At her funeral, her husband walked into the church to greet me. He pulled up his pant legs and told me that he was wearing his new socks for his wife’s funeral. We hugged each other and we both wept in our newborn friendship. I heard the Prophet John’s words rattling in my heart. If you have extra socks, give them away. Stop hoarding possessions and give them freely to others. I felt deep within my soul the reason for the giving. His grief was now being aided with the parish’s presence. The socks had now become the instrument of healing. He would always remember and grieve over the Christmas his wife died. He would also remember the Christmas Eve the parish reached out to both of them.

Every Christmas and every Easter that followed, the elderly widower wore his black dress socks to Mass. After Mass he made a point of stopping me in the lobby, shaking my hand with one hand and pulling up his pant leg with the other. He greeted me with gratitude and with tears. I looked forward to those holy greetings each year, where kindness and peace embraced. The holy greeting was a reminder for me that God is still coming to earth to save us from ourselves.

I preach now on Christmas Eve with even greater sensitivity to peoples’ stories. I realize the sock exchange with a kind-hearted stranger will never be duplicated. So I strive to break through the cultural wrappings that hide the season’s love. I reach out to tired parents, the bickering relatives, the ill single man or the couple drowning in debt. Now I wait for the gift God gives me, this authentic life, in the apprehensive stranger with cold feet sitting at the end of the crowded pew.