Mary Sullivan

A leper came to Him and kneeling down begged Him and said:

“If You wish, You can make me clean.”

Moved with pity, He stretched out His hand,

Touched the leper and said to him,

“I do will it.  Be made clean.”

The leprosy left him immediately

And He was made clean.

(Mark 1:40-45)

Lord Jesus, we have loved ones, deep in the throes of sin.

They’ve rejected the Gospel or given it some senseless spin.

We surrender our lives to You.  We trust You with our every need.

We give to You all that we have.  To You we now plead,

Have pity on our loved ones.  Stretch toward them Your healing hand.

Fill loved loves with Your wisdom.  Your truth let them understand.

Go now to our loved ones Lord.  Help them upon You lean.

Jesus, if You will it, You can make our loved ones clean.

Lord, You spoke the words “Ephphatha!”
To open the deaf man’s ears.
Ephphatha means “be opened.”
With these words the man could hear.

As You opened the deaf man’s ears,
Let our ears be opened too.
That we may listen to Your words.
That we may, with clarity, hear You.

And open too our loved ones’ ears.
Clear them of all debris.
Speak to them the word “Ephphatha!”
That truth they hear and see.

Open our loved ones’ ears, Lord.
We beg of You this day.
Open all our ears Lord.
Let us receive the words you say.

 (Based on Mark 7:31-37)

The daughter had an unclean spirit.
At the feet of Jesus, her mother fell.
She begged Him to drive the demons out.
Of this the Scriptures tell.

“Let the children be fed first.”
Jesus said to her these words.
For she was a Greek and not a Jew,
But she was not deterred.

“Even dogs eat the scraps,
Beneath the Master’s table.”
For saying this, the demon left.
The daughter was made stable.

Lord, we come now to You.
At Your feet we humbly bow.
We ask You to heal our sons and daughters,
For surely You know how

To heal all their confusion,
Deliver demons from their souls,
To grant to each loved one wisdom,
Let heaven be their goal.

Lord, we are unworthy.
Unprofitable too.
Yet, we trust You, and Your mercy.
Jesus, we trust in You.
(Based on Mark 7:24-30)

“And the peace of God

Which surpasses all understanding,

Will keep Your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

(Phil. 4:6-7)

Father, we have grown so anxious.

We have so many dreaded fears.

As we wonder what is happening,

What will be brought, in coming years?

Help us, Father, rich in mercy,

To put all anxiety aside.

May our fears transform to prayers.

May frantic fears subside.

Give us hearts of deep thanksgiving,

Make our hearts like unto Thine.

May Your peace pervade our living.

May hope today, in our hearts shine.

May we be bright lights for You,

With dispositions, kind and pleasant.

Stop us from thinking far ahead.

Help us just live this moment present.

Father, hear our cries to heaven,

As to You we kneel in prayer.

Humbled by this cross we carry.

We offer You our every care.

Touch our loved ones with Your mercy.

May temptations at last cease.

Grant them wisdom to see clearly.

Bless us all, Father, with Your peace.

Lord, let us commit our way to You.
Trust most surely you will act.
Your justice dawns like morning light.
With You, nothing do we lack.

Let us be just in all we do,
seek only what is right.
Let us keep you close within our hearts,
And wisdom in clear sight.

You are our only refuge Lord,
In times of all distress.
Only You, Lord, can deliver us,
To this truth we confess.

We pray not just for ourselves Lord.
We pray for loved ones too.
That they too will seek and trust You Lord,
in all they say and do.

That justice will dawn in their souls,
as if the morning light.
That they will flee from evil,
seek only what is right.

Be a refuge to our loved ones.
May loved ones seek You in all things.
Deliver them from error, Lord.
Keep them ever safe beneath Your wings.

(Based on Psalm 37)