Prayers of Intercession
In today’s Gospel, during Jesus’ prayer experience on the mountain, he is visibly changed and identified as the son of God. He continued to transform many lives during his ministry on his road to Jerusalem.
May we remain open to the power of God’s love to transform our lives and the lives of those we encounter and enable us to travel with hope on our journey through life.
Lord in your mercy... Hear our prayer.
For Pope Francis and all religious leaders. May they continue to inspire many to join them in praying to find resolutions to all the conflicts which divide communities and countries across the world.
Lord in your mercy... Hear our prayer.
For world leaders and diplomats, that they will find the courage to work together to speak out for justice and equality and safeguard all of God’s creation.
Lord in your mercy... Hear our prayer.
For the millions of people trapped in situations of warfare and violence. May God raise up the peacemakers to carry hope into places which seem hopeless.
Lord in your mercy... Hear our prayer.
For those in our communities struggling against difficulties, seen and unseen by people around them, and for those who feel defeated by life. May they find compassionate understanding as they face their unique challenges.
Lord in your mercy... Hear our prayer.
For all who are sick, physically or emotionally. May they be comforted and supported by warm hearted care givers. We remember those on the Prayer Foundation list.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
For those who have recently died and all who mourn the loss of those they have loved. May they be held in the peace of the Lord.
We remember Anthony Lawson, Frances Friel and Liz Milne.
Lord in your mercy…hear our prayer
Let us now say together our prayer to be missionary disciples.
Lord continue to bless our community
in this time of transition.
Help us on our journey
to grow from a maintenance church
to a missionary church.
Give us the courage
to be missionary disciples.
Make our doors wide enough
to receive all who need
human love and fellowship;
narrow enough to shut out
all envy, pride and prejudice.
Kindle in us the fire of your love
that all who come here
will find joy, peace and love.
Make this a house of prayer
and a gateway to your kingdom.
AMEN
Preparing for next week - Third Sunday of Lent B
John 2: 13-25 Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up.
Just before the Jewish Passover Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and in the Temple he found people selling cattle and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting at their counters there. Making a whip out of some cord, he drove them all out of the Temple, cattle and sheep as well, scattered the money-changers’ coins, knocked their tables over and said to the pigeon-sellers, ‘Take all this out of here and stop turning my Father’s house into a market.’ Then his disciples remembered the words of scripture: Zeal for your house will devour me. The Jews intervened and said, ‘What sign can you show us to justify what you have done?’ Jesus answered, ‘Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up.’ The Jews replied, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this sanctuary: are you going to raise it up in three days?’ But he was speaking of the sanctuary that was his body, and when Jesus rose from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the scripture and the words he had said.
During his stay in Jerusalem for the Passover many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he gave, but Jesus knew them all and did not trust himself to them; he never needed evidence about any man; he could tell what a man had in him.
This is the gospel of the Lord.
Commentary on the readings
Copyright © 1996-2021 Universalis Publishing Limited: see
www.universalis.com.
Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible are published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc.
Text of the Psalms: Copyright © 1963, The Grail (England). All rights reserved
Questions for reflection (framed for a group discussion)
In today's money the Temple brought in millions of pounds not just for the loan-sharks and traders but for the Temple Treasury. The Vatican too has battled with its associations with money and corruption. As Jesus said so succinctly: "You cannot serve two masters."
- Recall a time when you were upset with the institutional church. How did you deal with it?
- When has the message of the cross seemed absurd to you; when have you seen its wisdom? *
* All second questions
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