Loving Lord, today we reflect on the lives of St Peter and St Paul. We thank you for their example, and we ask you to inspire us, in our all-too-frail humanity, on our own faith journey.
As we pray, We join our prayers, asking God to guide politicians and world leaders in the way of peace.
We turn our prayerful attention to those caught up in political upheaval and war, for whom daily life has changed beyond recognition, and we remember those who live with the threat of violence hanging over them. We ask God to bring courage, comfort and hope to these situations.
We lift before the Lord aid workers who are struggling to get food and medical supplies into war zones. We ask God to keep courage alive in them, so they do not tire when the task seems impossible.
We lift before the Lord those who campaign for peace. We ask God to keep hope alive in their hearts, so they do not lose heart when their goal seems unreachable.
We pray for those taking exams and for those coming to the end of their studies. We ask God to guide their footsteps on the next stage of their journey. We pray that today’s young people will grow to become wise and compassionate adults, capable of steering humanity towards peace.
We pray for those who suffer in mind, body and spirit, for those who live with the daily grind of poverty, who are lonely, sick or grieving. We ask God to send the Holy Spirit to be alongside them, to show them the glimmer of God’s comforting presence – the light that grows ever brighter until it dispels the darkness.
We pray, too, for those who have gone before us into the light.
We pause a moment for our own personal prayers.
Lord, we trust that you hear the prayers we lift up to you. Amen.