Here’s a prayer of intercession written for the sixth Sunday of Easter (Year B). It comes from the Lutheran Church in Australia.
Prayer of Intercession
(John 15:9-17, Acts 10:44-48)
Father in heaven, we are friends to one another, not because we are so lovable and endearing, or because we choose to be with people who are like ourselves, but because you want us, as your children, to reach out with the best for other people, whoever they are and whatever their characteristics. You want your friends to enjoy a rich and healthy diet of love and joy, peace and patience, kindness and goodness. Thank you for making us your friends, and friends to one another.
By your Holy Spirit, feed our faith on Jesus the Christ so that we grow stronger in our loving concern for other people. Strengthen our faith so that Christ may live in us, so that we may live to please you, rather than try to please the world, and so that our priorities are yours, and not the greedy and selfish priorities of our society.
Give your wisdom to those who govern us so that all the people in [local country] can live in peace and safety. Inspire the leaders of the Christian denominations so that Jesus is honoured among all sections of society.
We marvel how your Spirit takes Jesus to the outsiders, those who belong to small or rejected groups in our society. May we welcome them as one with us. Lovingly wash us all clean and sow the risen Christ like a new seed, to sprout and grow in our lives.
Bless the word of new life sown in [local country], including
* those from overseas
* those who are often not accepted as equals in our society
* those for whom Jesus is only a swear word
* and those whom no one wants to get involved with, like drug addicts and pushers, sex workers, and criminals serving time.
Now we come as your friends to your table. Through the body and blood of Christ, given by the Spirit in the bread and wine, refresh those who are tired, heal those who are sick, and encourage those who are new. We thank you for hearing us, through Jesus our risen Lord.
Amen.
— from the Lutheran Church of Australia’s Sunday by Sunday website.
For more prayers on this blog, see the Scriptural Prayer Index at the upper right side of the page.
