Let us pray.
In today’s Gospel we hear Jesus tell us the most important commandments. We pray that we always love God and our neighbor in thought, word and deep. We pray to the Lord.
We pray for our Church that it be a true body of Christ, non-judgmental and promoting the message of God’s love and care for all humanity. We pray to the Lord.
We pray for those suffering from religious, racial and sexual discrimination, that their rights and dignity be recognized as brothers and sisters in God’s human family. We pray to the Lord.
We pray for those active on social media that they may promote love and understanding rather than misinformation, hatred and abuse of others. We pray to the Lord.
We pray for the victims of the earthquake in Turkey and Syria, for their families and all who suffer from this devastating calamity. We pray also for the success and safety of the aid workers who are responding to the crisis, tending to the injured and sheltering the homeless. We pray to the Lord.
On this St Valentine’s week, we pray for all those who are in loving relationships, that they remember that their love for each other is a reflection of God’s love for us. We pray to the Lord.
We pray for couples and for families who are struggling in their relationships, that the grace and wisdom of the Lord be bestowed on them and that they be helped in their efforts to love and cherish each other. We pray to the Lord.
For those on our parish prayer list, that they may receive swift answers to their needs and that they may find consolation through Christ’s healing presence. We pray to the Lord.
We bow our heads and remember in silence our own personal intentions and the intentions of those who have asked for our prayers (pause). We pray to the Lord.
As we enter into this time of prayer, O God, we offer our gratitude that you are always present to us. Instill in us a desire to so listen to others. Help us to listen with open hearts and open minds, that others might feel safe in our presence. Instill in us a spirit of serenity that others might feel accepted in your nonjudgmental grace. Free us from the tendency to label people and ideas and allow us instead to lean into mercy and kindness.
In the stillness of these moments, we acknowledge the times when we have been less than kind, merciful and open. Thank you for never banning us from your presence, loving God; help us to so love and accept others.
Merciful God, you have called us to be imitators of your Son, who embodied the commandment to love you with all his heart, soul, mind and strength. Make our hearts tender to people whom you love, the “least of these” that we encounter each day. May the compassion of our souls well up within us and cause us to act on behalf of those who are marginalized, underage, infirm, poor, victimized and voiceless. Challenge us to use our intellect and education for the common good, not just for personal advancement. Grant us the strength to build, to meet needs, to encourage, to reach out, to give sacrificially and selflessly. Thank you for the example of Jesus and for the trust you have placed in us to continue to model the greatest commandment to the world. We ask all these things, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
God Love You +++
The Most Rev. Robert Winzens
Pastor – St. Francis Chapel
San Diego, CA.
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