General Prayer for the Week of Christian Unity *Jan
18-25*
Gracious Lord,
we pray for all the members of your holy Church, that all may
abide in you and you in them, that they may be one in your love and bear much fruit. We also pray for the
world, that all may come to believe in your love for them by the fruit of our witness. We know that our divisions
are a source of scandal to your world, and we know that in love we are called to unite as one in the vine and branches. The vine is our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son. We are meant to be his branches. Help us we pray, to love, to forgive, to seek justice
and to be your prophetic voice in the world. May your grace effect growth of good fruit among us, that our world may realize peace. We ask all this in the name of Jesus, your Son and in the power of the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and ever.
Amen.
Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute Garrison, NY 10524-0300
Daily Prayers for the Week of Christian Unity
January 22, Day
5
Letting oneself be transformed
by the Word: “You have already been pruned by the word...” (John 15:3)
Scripture
- Deuteronomy
30:11-20, The word of God is very close to
you
- Matthew
5:1-12, Blessed are you
Meditation
The Word of God is very close to us. It is a blessing and a promise of happiness. If we open our hearts, God speaks to us and patiently transforms that which is dying in us. God
removes that which prevents the growth of real life, just as the vine grower prunes the vine.
Regularly meditating on a biblical text, alone or in a group, changes our outlook. Many Christians pray the Beatitudes every day. The Beatitudes reveal to us a happiness that is
hidden in that which is unfulfilled, a happiness that lies beyond suffering: blessed are those who, touched by the Spirit, no longer hold back their tears but let them flow and thus receive
consolation. As they discover the wellspring hidden within their inner landscape, the hunger for justice, and the thirst to engage with others for a world of peace, grows in
them.
We are constantly called to renew our commitment to life, through our thoughts and actions. There are times when we already taste, here and now, the blessing that will be
fulfilled at the end of time.
Prayer
Blessed are you, God our Father, for the gift of your word in Holy Scripture. Blessed are you for its transforming power. Help us to choose life and guide us by your Spirit, so
that we can experience the happiness which you want so much to share with us. Amen.
For the prayers for
the week, click on the title above or download the pdf found below.
Virtual Ecumenical Prayer Service
Join Archbishop Rozanski and our St. Louis Christian communities in prayer on Sunday, January 31 from 7 to 8 p.m. We will pray for unity as we strive to abide in God's love in order to bear much fruit. This virtual prayer event will allow us to enter
over a dozen St. Louis area churches (including St. John Bosco) as we pray together for Christ's unity among us. To register for the prayer service webinar, visit the Archdiocesan website.
FRIDAY JANUARY 22, 2021
"Let us not tire of invoking the
light and strength of the Holy Spirit, so that he may help us to experience ordinary things with love and thereby render them extraordinary. It is love that transforms: ordinary things seem to
continue being ordinary, but when they are done with love they become extraordinary. If we remain open, docile, to the Spirit, he inspires our daily thoughts and
actions."
Pope Francis ANGELUS JANUARY 10, 2021
Each of us are called to be Witnesses to God’s love and “Arise
and Go Out” and share the Good news with others.
Daily Devotions from Living Faith -JANUARY 21, 2021 (ST. AGNES)
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