Celebrant: With the trust that our Faith inspires, we now present our needs to God.

Deacon/Lector:

That the Church may continue to show the world the Lamb of God, who takes away its sins, we pray to the Lord...

That God may bless and protect all elected officials, in particular our President, we pray to the Lord...

For a deeper unity among all Christian denominations, a clearer understanding of our similarities and differences, and a stronger practical collaboration, we pray to the Lord...

That we may respond to our call to be a holy people by protecting and respecting all human life, especially those who are most inconvenient and easy to ignore, we pray to the Lord…

That the vision and dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. may inspire Christians to work for equality among all members of our society, we pray to the Lord...

That the sick may be healed, the oppressed set free, and the deceased welcomed into heavenly glory, we pray to the Lord...

Celebrant:

Father, 
Above all these petitions,
We ask for the gift of Your Holy Spirit.
Keep us faithful, 
And bring us salvation.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Three Key Themes

This week our nation honors the dream of equal human rights articulated by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On January 22, we also mark the anniversary of the most egregious violation of human rights through the Supreme Court decision Roe vs. Wade, which permitted the killing of children in the womb. During these days, Christians also observe the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. These three themes intersect powerfully. We pray that Christians will unite in effective service to all who are deprived of their rights, and bring about a Culture of Life, Justice, and Love. 

Is 49:3, 5-6
1 Cor 1:1-3
Jn 1:29-34

Watch a video with homily hints

“Called to be holy…a light to the nations…baptized as sons and daughters of God.” These themes, drawn from each of today’s readings, speak powerfully to us of our call as individuals and as a Church. Central to every vocation is the call to holiness. The name of the Second Vatican Council’s key document on the Church, “Lumen Gentium,” is taken from today’s first reading. It reminds us that we are a light, a beacon, to every people, primarily by the way we live, both in our private lives and in the way we conduct our activities and shape our policies as a Church and as a society.

At the same time, in these days, we have three observances whose themes converge powerfully to show us in what direction those lives and policies must go, and in what direction that “light to the nations” is to be shed.

This week our nation honors the dream of equal human rights articulated by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He did not only advocate for the equality of African Americans. His advocacy in that realm was a corollary of his advocacy for the equality of every human being. His niece, Dr. Alveda King, is now a full time pro-life activist with Priests for Life and declares that the civil rights movement of today is the pro-life movement.

On January 22, we also mark the anniversary of the most egregious violation of human rights through the Supreme Court decision Roe vs. Wade, which permitted the killing of children in the womb. Observances, rallies and marches take place throughout the nation this month to call for the equal protection of those children.

During these days, Christians also observe the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. John Paul II, in his encyclical “Ut Unum Sint,” called for ecumenical collaboration in the works of justice and human rights.

Each of these can inform our preaching today. We pray that Christians will unite in effective service to all who are deprived of their rights, and bring about a Culture of Life, Justice, and Love.