Prayer

Merciful God,

When you walked among us and lived in our midst, you showed us your heart for humanity. Through your example, we were taught that real power is shown in service to others, that true love is shown in selfless sacrifice, and that divine justice means showing partiality towards those who are poor. Help us remember we all are poor in some way, since we all are in need of your mercy. Fill us again (and again) with compassion, straight from your heart, to keep our attention fixed on the poor. Remind us that our community’s health is reflected in the way the poor among us are faring. Amen.

Prayer

God of creation,

You guided the magi by a star, leading them to encounter your son, Jesus. You continue to guide us to Jesus through your word, through sacraments, through events in our lives, through the community of faith, through good books and movies, through music, through the beauty of creation, and most especially through the goodness and compassion of others. Inspire us, through the gift of your Holy Spirit, to be a light for others, guiding them to your presence and love in their lives. We pray in the name of our loving God. Amen.

Prayer

Loving God,

We want to believe there is purpose and meaning in the world, but when tragedies come our conviction is shaken. In such moments, strengthen our faith and help us remember our calling. As those who are made in your image, we bear a purpose and meaning and are called for a reason to the places we live and work. Help us all to take heart today, recalling the words of St. John Neumann: no matter who we are or where we are from, we each have a part to play in re-ordering the world in the way it should go. For the sake of our communities and the success of your own good plans for our future, we pray. Amen.

Prayer

God of unity,

We have felt a new wave of tension come over us, as we brace for more of what COVID-19 has already done to our communities. We have worked hard to adjust and will continue to do so, yet we feel the separation caused by this pandemic so keenly. We are not together as we long to be. Rather than fall to despair, show us new ways to transform grief into healing. May we lean into the wisdom of saints like Elizabeth Ann Seton, who faced the challenges of her own day with grace and fortitude. May we lean into you, trusting that the unity we seek with each other will one day be restored. For all those who are working to bring that day closer, may we continue to show our support for them and their families in tangible ways. Amen.

Prayer

Author of Life,

It isn’t easy for us to be vulnerable. Even among friends it can be hard to share our weaknesses and struggles. It’s even harder in public, where the pressure to appear perfect is stronger than the freedom to be honest about the lives we are leading. Social media and other outlets tempt us to display an endless string of apparent successes, in our families, our jobs, and even our hobbies. Help us do better, by remembering that nobody’s perfect, and that wisdom is found in the way we learn from mistakes. Through your transforming grace, help us form communities where acceptance and sympathy are stronger than the fear of judgment. Where the stories we share become part of a shared process of healing, learning, and growth. Together we pray, Amen.

Prayer

God of new beginnings,

The calendar tells us we’ve begun a new year, yet for many of us life still feels the same. For those who feel stuck in dead-end routines and habits they can’t seem to break, give them new vision. Help them find life-giving paths of positive change. For those still afraid to start something new, give them new courage. Empower them to embrace the adventure of faith. For those already exhausted from the work they perform, give new companions. May they find others to share in their labor and assist their next steps. For those still in need of care and attention, open new doors. Connect them in new ways with your healing compassion. For all of us, open our hearts to the wondrous new things you have promised to do. Amen.

Prayer

God of Hope,

You give us every reason to have hope in your promises. Yet that still doesn’t make it easy for us. By faith and commitment, we have to learn to hold fast to the dreams you have placed in our hearts, for our families, our communities, and our world. Thank you for the example of Mary your mother, who showed her great faith by pondering the words she’d been told about her new baby son, Jesus. Just as Mary “kept all these things” in her heart and then watched them unfold over time, help us to hold onto your words, as we share in your mission together. May we look forward in hope to see your promises fulfilled in the lives of those around us. Amen.