16th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

July 17, 2011*

 

Invitation:     

Our minds are frustrated, our hearts are broken

when we see what looks like evil filling our church and world.

But only God can judge perfectly,

and so we entrust all to God now in prayer.

                                                                                           

Intentions:                                                                      

For a Christian community that reflects the mercy and patience of God

within its own body and in its dealings with the world, we pray:

 

For a church willing to suspend judgment when something new is growing in its midst

until time and grace reveal whether it bears the fruit of the Kingdom, we pray:

 

IN THE DIOCESE OF JOLIET:

For our diocese to grow as “wheat” in God’s Kingdom

under the pastoral care of our new Bishop, R. Daniel Conlon, we pray:

 

For the enhancement of human life and dignity

through the ethical/right use of the power in medicine and technology, we pray:

 

For legal systems tempered by mercy in the understanding that human judgment is frequently flawed, we pray:

 

For men’s and women’s work to be equally valued

     as essential to the growth of the Kingdom, we pray:

 

For wisdom and care in making the difficult economic decisions facing countries everywhere,

assuring good seed is sown and no needed plant is torn out, we pray:

 

For diplomats and peacemakers strong in purpose

to prevent the enemies of peace from stealing the hope of those weary of conflict,

[including the people of Sudan, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Israel and the Palestinian territories,] we pray:

 

For governments to show true might in their lenient response

to the protests and civil disobedience of their people, especially in Syria, we pray:

 

For justice as well as kindness toward those uprooted or isolated

in refugee camps, institutions, prisons, and ghettos, we pray:

 

For the legacy of Betty Ford to continue to bear fruit in persons with addictions

     who are helped to recover the goodness rooted in them, we pray:

 

For our young people and all persons in life transitions

as they plant their faith in new situations

[     of marriage and family, education, service, work, or retirement], we pray:

 

For the assurance of employment, health care, and every needed support

to our veterans who have risked all to confront our nation’s enemies, we pray:

 

For the protection of all in summer’s extremes of heat, storms, and fire,

especially children and the elderly, we pray:

 

For the courage to plant our faith deeply in our everyday lives

so it may grow, with God’s grace, among our blessings and heartaches,

     our good deeds and failures, we pray:

 

For the power of God’s kindness to be known by everyone who is seriously ill, in chronic pain, or hospitalized,

including __________, we pray:

 

For all who died recently to be gathered into eternal joy,

including _________________,

and persons who perished in accidents, violence, extreme heat or natural disaster, we pray:

 

Concluding Prayer:      

Searcher of hearts,

only you know your divine will, only you can judge rightly.

In the wisdom and power of the Spirit,

may these prayers help bring about your Kingdom,

for we offer them through Christ our Lord.

 

AMEN.

 

*This is only a selection of intentions sent for July 17, 2011.  Subscribers typically receive 15 to 20 intentions each week, plus two Invitations and two Concluding Prayers.

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