Prayer for Each Day

Time of the Church 5

Song

Psalm

O God, you are my God, for you I long;
for you my soul is thirsting.
My body pines for you
like a dry, weary land without water.
So I gaze on you in the sanctuary
to see your strength and your glory.

For your love is better than life,
my lips will speak your praise.
So I will bless you all my life,
in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul shall be filled as with a banquet,
my mouth shall praise you with joy.

On my bed I remember you.
On you I muse through the night
for you have been my help;
in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand holds me fast.

Reading

The first Christians devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

or

As Jesus went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. When it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now very late; send them away so that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.” But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “Are we to go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?” And he said to them, “How many loaves have you? Go and see.” When they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” Then he ordered them to get all the people to sit down in groups on the green grass. So they sat down in groups of hundreds and of fifties. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, Jesus looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and he divided the two fish among them all. And all ate and were filled; and they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. Those who had eaten the loaves numbered five thousand men.

Song

Silence

Intercessions

Let us pray for those who are beginning to know Christ: may the Lord strengthen them on their journey.

For children, for those who take care of them and awaken them to faith, Lord, we pray.

Let us pray for the ill and those who are ending their lives in loneliness: may the Lord give them the strength they need.

Let us pray for those who are condemned to prison or exile: may the Lord sustain their hope.

That the fire of your Spirit may renew our energies and enable us to welcome those who do not know you, Lord, we pray.

May your Church be constantly renewed at the table of the Word and the Eucharist, Lord, we pray.

Our Father

Prayer

God our Father, you never stop searching for all who have gone away from you. And by your forgiveness, you place on our finger the ring of the prodigal son, the ring of festival.

or

Bless us, Christ Jesus; your love is greater than our hearts.

Songs