October 24: 22^nd Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 25

 

Jeremiah 31: 7-9 (God saves, consoles, and leads back the remnant of his people)

Psalm 126 (Israel’s fortunes restored; those who sowed in weeping bring in the sheaves with joy)

Hebrews 7:23-28 (Our perfect, great High Priest is the blameless eternal Son of God)

Mark 10:46-52 (Blind Bartimaeus is healed and follows Jesus on the way)

 

THE PRAYERS 

 

Let us intercede before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ for the sake of the Church, the world, and one another.

A brief silence

Dear Father, thank you for the mercy, healing, forgiveness, and salvation you lavish upon us in Jesus! Give us courage and persistent faith, so we always trust and follow him along his Way.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Purify and shape your Church into the perfect Temple for your Son, our great High Priest. Make it lovely with holiness, beautiful with mercy, and radiant with truth. Use it to enlighten the spiritually blind, and equip it to lead them along Christ’s way.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

As you consoled and healed the remnant of Israel, do so and more for your persecuted Church. Make it rich in faith, hope, and love. By its witness to Jesus, open the eyes of its sin-blinded enemies, and lead them also along Christ’s way.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Bless this congregation with such lively faith that we always see opportunities to bring other people to Jesus and his healing love. Make us eager to be companions to those who don’t yet know him. Help us to be their guides along Christ’s way.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

Lord, blindness isn’t just a metaphor. It’s a physical reality. We lift before you the challenges and needs of those who are impaired in vision, hearing, and mobility. Help us to bring the light of your love and the music of your Word to them. Help us also to provide the assistance, training, and support they need to flourish. Let us be their “guide dogs” along Christ’s way.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

Pound into the heads of our country’s leaders some common sense, humility, and virtue. Teach them that power, wealth, and fame matter less than wisdom, justice, mercy, and integrity. Use them to lead their people along your way.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

Thank you for the brave, wise, and good among us who risk so much to protect life, health, liberty, and justice. Renew and sustain their strength and resolve. Use them to mend communities fractured by sickness, violence, and injustice, and to lead many along your way.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

Like Bartimaeus’s friends, we plead that Jesus would bring healing and encouragement to all who suffer in body, mind, or spirit. Especially we plead for: {List}. Bring them healing and hope, light and life. Refresh all who care for them, so together they may walk along your way.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Dear Father, we entrust into your care our beloved dead. Ease the sorrow of those whose grief runs deep. Give us strength to encourage and support each other as we follow our blessed Savior along the way that leads to your spacious house and our eternal homecoming.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

 

Incline your ear to our prayers, dear Lord; and answer them according to your most gracious and holy will, for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

“Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more” (1 Thessalonians 4:9-10)

The Lord said that He would write the law on our hearts so that we need not be taught by anyone to love the Lord.  Indeed, the law is written on your heart.  Sadly, many ignore what has been written on their heart.  But you, listen to what the Lord says and no longer follow where you have been sinfully following, but listen to what He has written on your heart.  Seek first His righteousness and then all else will be added.

Lord, grant that I have discernment to know the difference between the heart in rebellion and what You have written on my heart.  Guide me in Your goodness to know the difference.  Lead me in the way of righteousness so that I may now and always be guided by You.  Help me to look to You as the source and norm of all goodness, knowing that Your grace is more than sufficient for me.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for guiding me in all goodness.  Help me to look to You as the model of the godly life and to follow Your lead.  The law has been written on my heart, so teach me how to listen in order that I may hear Your Word of command and obey You.  Through all things that come my way, lead me in the way of goodness and mercy all the days of my life until I see You face to face.  Amen.