The first priority in Archbishop Mark’s Apostolic Priorities for the Archdiocese of Brisbane, documented in With Lamps Ablaze, is Teaching Prayer. He says, “Often we urge people to pray but don’t really teach them how to pray… Now is the time to teach ways of prayer which are mature and all-embracing. Christian prayer begins not with speaking but with listening; and learning to pray is therefore learning to listen – to listen even to the silences of God. If all we do is speak, then in the words of Jesus we “babble like the pagans” (Matt 6:7). But if we speak after listening and in response to God who always has the first word, then we speak according to the mind of the Holy Spirit. That’s what we need to teach and learn. In the Gospel of Mark, we read that Jesus called the twelve apostles to himself, first of all, “that they might be with him” (3:14). This is where the mission starts: being with Jesus, which is what prayer is.”
Join us for our new weekly series, Let’s Pray, where we invite you to pray along with us. Each week we will invite you to pray a new prayer with us – maybe you don’t know what to pray, or want to pray along with someone, or want to practice your faith through prayer. Our Let’s Pray series is for everyone.
Today is World Mission Sunday and His Holiness Pope Francis has chosen a theme inspired by the story of the disciples on the way to Emmaus in the Gospel of Luke (cf. 24:13-35): “Hearts on fire, feet on the move”. Those two disciples’ encounter with Christ in the word and in the breaking of the bread sparked in them the enthusiastic desire to set out again towards Jerusalem and proclaim that the Lord had truly risen. Today we ask that our hearts, too, will be on fire to proclaim the Good News. Let’s pray.
- Prayer for World Mission Sunday
Prayer for World Mission Sunday
Author: Archdiocese of Brisbane
This World Mission Day, I invite you to pray that we might carry out His mission in the world and open the eyes of others to Jesus.In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Heavenly Father, when your only begotten Son Jesus Christ rose from the dead, He commissioned His followers to “go and make disciples of all nations”. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, may You make our hearts burn within us so that we can proclaim His mystery of salvation to the world with power and wisdom. Walk with us as we proclaim our joy in Christ the Lord, His life, His passion, His death and resurrection, and the wonders that His love accomplished in our own lives Help us to make it possible for everyone to experience the saving love and mercy of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever. Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Thank you for praying with us. We hope to see you again soon.