Here’s a prayer of intercession based on the scripture readings for the second Sunday of Lent, Year B (March 4, 2012). It comes from the Lutheran Church of Australia’s Sunday by Sunday website.
Prayer of Intercession: March 4, 2012
(based on Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16; Psalm 22: 1; Mark 8:31-38, Romans 4:13-25)
Almighty God and Father, we do not come to talk with you this morning because we think we are so good and wonderful, but because you have been so good and wonderful to us—adopted us into your family and blessed us as your children.
Help us to cling to the promises you make to your family:
· to love us when we see only our selfishness
and lack of love to you
· to forgive us, because of everything Jesus did for us
in his life of love and in his dying on the cross
· to give your family a share in the resurrection
when their bodies are worn out and rest in dust and ashes.
We thank you for Jesus Christ our Lord, who walks out in front of us to lead your people safely through the difficult and trying times ahead. We marvel that he would turn his back on a big name for himself in his life on earth, and choose to go to the place of suffering and death, out of love for all people in the world. There he identified with all godly people who have called out in despair: 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'
May your Spirit help us to carry the cross for people in need of our loving concern, doing the best we can for their special needs without counting the cost to ourselves.
Bless all those who feel like giving up,
those who feel they cannot take any more sickness and suffering,
those who care for the sick, the dying, and those who grieve inwardly.
Bless our leaders who have big responsibilities to carry:
· the leaders of our country, including the prime minister
· the leaders of the churches, including all presidents and bishops
· the leaders of our congregations,
including our pastors, elders and church council.
Give us new strength by your Holy Spirit as Christ comes to us in his supper. Refresh us for the journey ahead, replenish our faith, and give us new confidence for the future. We ask this in Jesus' name.
Amen.
— from the Lutheran Church of Australia’s Sunday by Sunday website.
For more worship resources for March 4, 2012 (the second Sunday of Lent), click on Lent 2 B in the list of “Labels” at the lower right side of the page. For more prayer resources on this blog, see the Scriptural Index of Prayers at the upper right side of the page.
