Intercessions for Sunday March 23rd 2003
3rd Sunday of Lent, Year B

PRIEST

St Paul tells us that God’s weakness is stronger than any human strength, God’s foolishness wiser than any human wisdom. Confident of God’s strength and wisdom let us bring our petitions before him.

READER

Let us pray for the church with all its great gifts and weaknesses. Help us to follow its teachings, remembering always to discern the spirit of God’s wisdom which informs the letter of its laws. Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Let us pray for our parish, remembering Christ’s law in our dealings with each other: love one another as I have loved you. Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Let us pray for the wisdom to discern right from wrong. Let us not be blinded by the apparent legality of a situation to act out of self-interest and opportunism. May we use our anger righteously to drive away the moneylenders from the temples of our hearts. Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Let us pray for the people of Iraq and all those whose lives may be affected by the present war. May God’s wisdom and strength prevail as we pray for a speedy and just peace. Lord in your mercy, Hear our prayer.

Let us turn to Our Lady, the mother of Jesus to intercede for us as we say, Hail Mary....

Let us pray for our own intentions in silence.

PRIEST

God our Father, we pray for your mercy in the name of Jesus your son.