FREE DIGITAL SAMPLE FOR. the week of January 21, 2018 DAILY UNIVERSAL PRAYER AND COMMENTARY

Transcription

1 FREE DIGITAL SAMPLE FOR the week of January 21, 2018 DAILY UNIVERSAL PRAYER AND COMMENTARY CELEBRATING 50 YEARS IN PRINT

2 SUNDAY, JANUARY 21, 2018 (Lec. 68) 1) Jonah 3:1-5, 10 2) 1 Corinthians 7: ) Mark 1:14-20 THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME FOCUS: Let us heed God s call. How many times do we have to stumble and fall before we realize that following God s ways, and not our own, leads to happiness and salvation? Let us not resist the Lord, but answer his call. In the first reading, the reluctant prophet Jonah gets a quick response today from the people of Nineveh. Saint Paul speaks with urgency, telling the Corinthians that time is running out. Jesus begins his ministry by calling four Apostles changing the direction of their lives. PRIEST: Heeding God s call, we place before the Lord our needs so that we might follow him. 1) For Church leaders, may the Holy Spirit continue to guide and inspire them and keep them faithful to Christ and his Gospel, let us pray to the Lord. 2) For all civic leaders, may God provide them with the spiritual and practical resources necessary for their work to bring an end to violence, let us pray to the Lord. 3) For those discerning their vocation in life, may God honor them in their search and give them the grace to remain open to his invitation, let us pray to the Lord. 4) For young people in our parish who face difficulty at home or school, may God provide them family, friends and others to offer guidance and support, let us pray to the Lord. 5) For those who have died, may they live in glory forever with God and all the saints, let us pray to the Lord. PRIEST: Gracious God, we thank you for hearing our prayers, which we offer through Christ our Lord.

3 Monday, January 22, 2018 MONDAY OF (Lec. 317) 1) 2 Samuel 5:1-7, 10 IN ORDINARY TIME 2) Mark 3:22-30 (Legal Protection of Unborn Children) For the Day of Prayer, any readings from the Lectionary for Mass Supplement, the Mass For Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life, nos. 947A-947E, or the Lectionary for Mass (vol. IV), the Mass For Peace and Justice, nos FOCUS: Jesus is the source of our unity. Division causes weakness. Let us be united in our trust of God s powerful help, so we may accompany each other through the difficulties of today s world. And may we be open to the workings of the Holy Spirit, who strengthens our bond with Jesus. In the first reading, David is anointed king by the elders of Israel, and we are told he reigns for forty years. In today s Gospel, Jesus preaches against division within the kingdom and against blaspheming the Holy Spirit. PRIEST: Raising our voices with trust in our heavenly Father, we present our prayers for ourselves and the world. 1) That our Holy Father, Pope Francis, may enjoy continued health and vitality, and be blessed with an abundance of grace to shine the light of Christ in our world, let us pray to the Lord. 2) That elected officials may work to uphold the dignity and sanctity of life from conception through natural death, let us pray to the Lord. 3) That all women facing difficult or unplanned pregnancies may receive compassionate care and the support they need, let us pray to the Lord. 4) That those who have closed their hearts to God may be blessed with the certainty of God s love for them, and seek the grace to reconcile, let us pray to the Lord. 5) That those who have died may find peace and rest in our Lord s loving care, let us pray to the Lord. PRIEST: Heavenly Father, you give power to the weak and guidance to the lost. Hear the prayers we offer today in the name of your son, Jesus Christ.

4 Tuesday, January 23, 2018 TUESDAY OF (Lec. 318) 1) 2 Samuel 6:12b-15, IN ORDINARY TIME 2) Mark 3:31-35 (Opt. Mem. Saint Vincent, Deacon and Martyr; Saint Marianne Cope,Virgin) FOCUS: Strive to live faithfully and virtuously to follow the will of God. Each of us is called to follow God s will so as to become members of Christ s family. How do we know we are following God s will? If we are in relationship with Jesus and strive to be faithful and virtuous, we can be confident that God will lead us on the path of life he sets forth. In today s first reading, King David decides to move the ark to the City of David and place it within his tent. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus identifies everyone who does the Father s will as his brother and sister and mother. PRIEST: Let us bring our prayers to the Father, who knows us as sons and daughters. 1) For all members of the Church, may the Holy Spirit help us make a joyful and fruitful witness to the Gospel, let us pray to the Lord. 2) For those throughout the world who do not yet know the blessing of being in the presence of God, may the love of Christians bring them to the faith, let us pray to the Lord. 3) For all God s children who lack the basic necessities of life, may their needs be met and may they be blessed with the strength and support they need, let us pray to the Lord. 4) For our brothers and sisters within this faith community who feel invisible, may God hear their prayers and send companions who witness to his love, let us pray to the Lord. 5) For all who have died, may they experience the joys of the heavenly kingdom forever, let us pray to the Lord. PRIEST: Loving Father, hear and answer the prayers of your children according to your will. We ask you in the name of your son, Jesus Christ.

5 Wednesday, January 24, 2018 WEDNESDAY OF (Lec. 319) 1) 2 Samuel 7:4-17 IN ORDINARY TIME 2) Mark 4:1-20 (OBL MEM Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church) FOCUS: Let us seek direction from the Lord, and then follow when he gives it. When we have an idea that we believe will please the Lord, or if we wonder if a certain thought might be from God, let us pray for guidance as well as seek advice and discernment from a spiritual advisor. Let us also be open to whatever the answer might be. The Lord is the one in charge. In today s first reading, David, who wanted to build a temple for the Lord, learns the Lord will honor him in other ways by having an everlasting dynasty through his descendants. The Gospel relates the parable of the seed that falls on different kinds of soil. Jesus explains to the Twelve and a few others that this represents the acceptance or disregard of the Word by various listeners. PRIEST: Let us come humbly before the Lord and ask him to hear our petitions. 1) That all clergy may be strengthened and edified by the prayers of the Church throughout the world, let us pray to the Lord. 2) That our elected officials may be led by the Holy Spirit to enact laws that uphold the dignity of all people, let us pray to the Lord. 3) That the spirits of the lonely and discouraged may be uplifted by the assurance of God s love and compassion for them, let us pray to the Lord. 4) That this faith community may be good soil that bears good fruit after hearing the Word of God, let us pray to the Lord. 5) That all our dearly beloved who have died may enjoy the eternal happiness of Paradise with the Lord and all his saints, let us pray to the Lord. PRIEST: We pray these prayers with confidence to you, Father, in the name of your son, Jesus.

6 THURSDAY, JANUARY 25, 2018 (Lec. 519) 1) Acts 22:3-16 or Acts 9:1-22 2) Mark16:15-18 THE CONVERSION, OF SAINT PAUL the APOSTLE - FEAST FOCUS: Through conversion, we learn to see in a new way God s way. In the story of Saint Paul s conversion, he spends time in blindness after encountering the risen Christ. When he is healed, Paul can see again in a new way. We, too, are called to conversion throughout our lives, called to see in a new way God s way. The first reading from Acts recounts Saint Paul s conversion on the way to Damascus. In the Gospel, Jesus calls on his Apostles to spread the Good News of his kingdom. PRIEST: God calls us all to have concern for our brothers and sisters around the world, so let us present him with our prayers. 1) For bishops throughout the world, may they be graced with Saint Paul s zeal in teaching the Word of God, let us pray to the Lord. 2) For all judges, may God grant them prudence to decide the cases before them with justice, mercy and wisdom, let us pray to the Lord. 3) For all who have suffered as a result of violence or abuse, may they be comforted and supported by God s healing love, let us pray to the Lord. 4) For this faith community, may we build up missionary disciples in our midst who will go and proclaim the Gospel, let us pray to the Lord. 5) For the faithful departed, especially the loved ones of those here present, may they enjoy eternal rest, let us pray to the Lord. PRIEST: God our Father, we know that you hear our prayers. We ask that you answer them according to your will, through your son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

7 FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 2018 FRIDAY OF, (Lec. 520) 1) 2 Timothy 1:1-8 or Titus 1:1-5 IN ORDINARY TIME (Lec. 520) (OBL MEM Saints Timothy and Titus, Bishops) 2) Mark 4:26-34 FOCUS: Sincere faith gives us the ability and the courage to proclaim the Gospel message. Jesus explains to his disciples the meaning of his parables that describe the powerful growth of the kingdom of God. Let us also listen to Jesus words and seek to understand. Only then can we nurture our own seeds of faith and find the courage to work for the kingdom. In the first reading, Paul writes from prison and affectionately greets Timothy, for whom he constantly prays. In the Gospel, Jesus speaks in parables, comparing the kingdom of God to seeds that sprout overnight, and then to a mustard seed the smallest of seeds that grows into the largest of plants. PRIEST: Called by the Lord to open ourselves to the mysteries of the kingdom, we present with faithful hearts our prayers of petition. 1) For all who serve the Church, may God infuse them with joy and wisdom as they preach the Word of God, let us pray to the Lord. 2) For world leaders, may they seek ways to avoid conflict and violence by looking to the Gospel of Jesus, which fosters peace and healing, let us pray to the Lord. 3) For all who are persecuted for their faith, may God s Holy Spirit uphold and strengthen them and assure them of the prayers of their brothers and sisters in Christ, let us pray to the Lord. 4) For parents who struggle financially or emotionally to care for their children, may they be renewed in hope and guided to assistance, let us pray to the Lord. 5) For all who have died, may they be with the risen Lord forever in the heavenly kingdom, let us pray to the Lord. PRIEST: Loving God, we bring our prayers before you with confidence that you will hear and answer them. Grant what we ask according to your will, through Christ our Lord.

8 SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, 2018 SATURDAY OF (Lec. 322) 1) 2 Samuel 12:1-7a, IN ORDINARY TIME 2) Mark 4:35-41 (Opt. Mem. Saint Angela Merici, Virgin; Saturday in Honor of BVM) FOCUS: Jesus calms the winds and waves of the storms and seas of our lives. A life of discipleship does not mean a life free from suffering and trials. However, our faith in Jesus assures us that he is the sovereign Lord who can calm the storms of our lives. In the first reading, the Lord sends Nathan to David to tell him a parable about a rich and poor man. When David realizes he is the rich man in the parable, he repents. In Mark s Gospel, we hear about Jesus calming the sea, and then Jesus asks the disciples if they have faith. PRIEST: God the Father, we bring to you these prayers, trusting through faith in your loving providence. 1) For Pope Francis, our bishop, priests and all who teach the faith, may God bless their every endeavor as they share the Gospel with people in all corners of the earth, let us pray to the Lord. 2) For all who serve in positions of authority, may they see themselves as servants for justice, seeking always the common good as they make decisions, let us pray to the Lord. 3) For the sick and those who are marginalized, may they be consoled by the peace of Christ, let us pray to the Lord. 4) For this community of faith, may God strengthen our trust in him to be with us in the storms of our lives, let us pray to the Lord. 5) For all who have died, may they see the face of God this day, let us pray to the Lord. PRIEST: Heavenly Father, you sent your Son for our salvation. Hear the prayers we bring to you today with trusting hearts, in his name.