Jesus, You command that we love each other as You have loved us. “Since the Father loved us so much that He sent You to be the sacrifice that takes our sins away, we too should love one another.” [John 4:10-11] “By such love, everyone will know that we are Your disciples.” “Anyone who says ‘I love God’, and hates his brother is a liar, since a person who does not love the brother that he can see, cannot love God whom he has never seen.” [1 letter of John 4:20-21]
Jesus, inspire us with gospel love for others. Knowing that each person is Your beloved, we ask that You reveal those individuals and families who are in need amongst us.
Alert us to those who feel unable to request help or cannot believe in its availability. Alert us to those whose poverty or anxieties make life seem endless struggle.
Alert us to the lonely, unwanted and forgotten ones, anyone whose self-worth desperately needs affirmation. Bring before us those who suffer disappointment, tragedy, or upheaval, and who need others’ support until they rethink their lives and attitudes.
Alert us to those who are scarred or crushed by sins or guilt, so that through us You may express Your forgiveness, love and acceptance of them, and encourage their reconciliation.
Search out to us those who are in danger of losing their faith if no one shows them Christian love and witness. Reveal to us anyone whose ability to persevere hangs on another’s kindness, inspiration or friendship.
Alert those amongst us who would willingly serve if they become aware of another’s pain and need. Lead us to share our gifts with others with wisdom, cheerfulness, humility, gentleness and strength. In our dealings with others, let us bring living Christ.
Let those who are incapacitated or suffering offer their difficulties and joys to intercede for love and justice in our community and in our world. Let these blessed-deprived ones, along with all who are prayerful, unite their offering with the service of the prayerfully active, to bring Your kingdom of love amongst us.
Thank You for all healing and compassion that You activate in our hearts for others. We pray to act upon this compassion to assist each other in appropriate and valuable ways.