Pray for the physically and spiritually poor

Notes of meeting on 3 March 2015

Our Lady with one hand on her Immaculate Heart and the other raised in blessing says:
Dear Children I bring you my Son Jesus' blessing , I entreat you in this most holy season to lift your hearts to the Father and to walk with my Son Jesus the road to Calvary. With the aid of the Most Holy Spirit and my heartfelt prayers for your spiritual well being make this a time of sacrifice and offering along side that of my Son.
You will reap many blessings and your endeavours will be greatly blessed.
Pray hard for your brothers and sisters in the world who do not know my son Jesus and pray even harder for those who know him and spurn him; that their hearts and minds be opened to the great love of the Most Holy Father in Heaven.
I bless you in the name of my Son Jesus.

Exodus 33 v 1-2
¹ Yahweh then said to Moses, 'Leave, move on from here, you and the people whom you have brought here from Egypt, to the country that I swore to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that I would give to their descendants.
² I shall send an angel in front of you and drive out the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites.

Lord drive out all the sinfulness and obstacles in our lives that prevent us from entering into the land you have prepared for us the land of your Kingdom here on earth and in Heaven.

Acts 5 v 27 -39
²⁷ When they had brought them in to face the Sanhedrin, the high priest demanded an explanation.
²⁸ 'We gave you a strong warning', he said, 'not to preach in this name, and what have you done? You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and seem determined to fix the guilt for this man's death on us.'
²⁹ In reply Peter and the apostles said, 'Obedience to God comes before obedience to men;
³⁰ it was the God of our ancestors who raised up Jesus, whom you executed by hanging on a tree.
³¹ By his own right hand God has now raised him up to be leader and Saviour, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins through him to Israel.
³² We are witnesses to this, we and the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.'
³³ This so infuriated them that they wanted to put them to death.
³⁴ One member of the Sanhedrin, however, a Pharisee called Gamaliel, who was a teacher of the Law respected by the whole people, stood up and asked to have the men taken outside for a time.
³⁵ Then he addressed the Sanhedrin, 'Men of Israel, be careful how you deal with these people.
³⁶ Some time ago there arose Theudas. He claimed to be someone important, and collected about four hundred followers; but when he was killed, all his followers scattered and that was the end of them.
³⁷ And then there was Judas the Galilean, at the time of the census, who attracted crowds of supporters; but he was killed too, and all his followers dispersed.
³⁸ What I suggest, therefore, is that you leave these men alone and let them go. If this enterprise, this movement of theirs, is of human origin it will break up of its own accord;
³⁹ but if it does in fact come from God you will be unable to destroy them. Take care not to find yourselves fighting against God.' His advice was accepted;

Lord help us be obedient to you and your calling. Help us to judge and discern your actions and presence in those around us, even in the most unlikely of people.

We pray for the poor of the world:
 

Lord we pray that you would look with compassion on those who are poor.

Those who lack food, water and shelter.

Those who lack financial security.

Those who lack health.

Those who lack peace and justice.

 

Creator God, who made our beautiful world,

appointed us as its guardians

and gifted us with everything we need,

forgive us for the times we cause it harm;

for the times our way of life affects our neighbours.

Inspire us

to care for the environment;

to help rebuild lives and communities;

to share in the griefs and anxieties,

joys and hopes of all your people,

so that all your creation may flourish.
 

 We pray for our sisters and brothers throughout the world, especially those living in poverty: may God help us to give the support they need to change their lives for the better. Lord in your mercy…

We pray for those affected by storms, floods and droughts: that through God’s grace we may work together to help rebuild lives and communities, and prepare for future disasters. Lord in your mercy…

We pray for all people who are excluded, marginalised or struggling in any way: that God may comfort them and lead us to stand alongside them so they do not have to face the future alone. Lord in your mercy

We pray for the Church around the world: that the Spirit may inspire us to continue to work together for the good of all and of each individual, sharing in the gifts of God’s creation. Lord in your mercy…

We pray for world leaders: that they may act to protect God’s creation and ensure all people have equal access to its gifts. Lord in your mercy…
   We pray for our parish communities and prayer groups: that by caring for God’s creation locally we may share in the joys, hopes, griefs and anxieties of our global family suffering from floods, droughts and storms. Lord in your mercy…
 
 We pray that we would not be indifferent to the needs and struggles of our brothers and sisters.

Lord in your mercy...