Prayers for Sunday 23rd August 2026

 This Sunday’s Gospel reading see’s  Jesus ask his disciples a question. "Who do you say that I am?"

When Peter in response declares you are the Messiah we need to note that he was influenced by the Jewish thinking of the day. 

Pharisees who said the Messiah could only come if people became pure and who then discriminated against others who the said were not. By implication they were holding up the Messiahs return.

Zealots who said it would take a war against the Romans for the Messiah to come.

Then there were those Priest’s and sadducees  who colluded with the Roman authorities and who really wanted the stars quo so no Messiah thank you.

When Peter makes his response he had not yet grasped what sort of Messiah Jesus was.

Jesus was a very different Messiah. He said violence could never destroy violence. That no one was to be excluded. Those in authority needed to care for all not just themselves. 

Hopefully as disciples our answer to the question  Who do you say that I am? Will not be the Jesus of Churchy language or human doctrines, but the Jesus who in his relationships and  story telling revealed what the Kingdom of God was like. For it was, and is, the dream of God, that humanity might become what God knows we can become, when Love directs thought and actions.

Intercessions Sunday 23rd August 2026

Like Peter each of us have to be able to express who we think Jesus is?  

Peter did not realise the truth of his words until after the resurrection, 

So let us offer our response to the question through our prayers.

And let us pray that our prayers align with God’s dream and trust in us.

God our creator you have gifted to us this planet within the universe that  continues to expand. The DNA of your love is within and beyond it all. You dream that our earth might be transformed, for in Jesus you spoke about how the Kingdom is already breaking in. 

So we pray that your Holy Spirit will inspire all those who seek to be the voice of its care, that they will be heard and we stop destroying the planet. Silence those who deny climate change, disturb those who make their wealth from burning carbon fuels, and make us uncomfortable until our lifestyle matches your Holy dream of a transformed world now,  and not in some vague dim and distant future that doesn’t exist.

Lord in Your mercy

Hear our Prayer

God our Creator in Jesus you revealed that the breaking in of your kingdom meant a change of heart, a change of mind that was radical. If we say you are Lord then it follows we need to seek that radical way. To turn the other cheek, to walk the extra mile, to live the way of forgiveness and mercy knowing it is the costly way. For violence never defeats violence. 

So we pray for a change of heart and mind in all people especially those who perpetrate violence, 

the warring groups in Sudan, 

the Israeli settlers, 

the leaders and governments of the USA and Russia, 

the army of Myanmar. 

And lest we set ourselves up as the arbiters of what’s right and wrong, 

we pray for ourselves, that in dealing with family, friends and neighbours, we might speak and act always to reconcile, while never shying away from speaking truth to power just because it costs.

Lord in Your mercy

Hear our Prayer

God our creator in  Jesus you  brought healing and wholeness. He fed hungry people, he set free those who were afraid and he taught that everything needed to be turned upside down, 

so the last will be first, 

the outcast will be welcomed before those who have it all. 

For in Jesus You reveal there are no barriers and all are loved and included by God.

So we pray again for a change of heart and mind in all people so the way our society, and all societies operate, we are able to rise above our prejudices and the influence of those who would seek to divide, and so instead create a transformed world where all enjoy a healthy and creative life.

Lord in Your mercy

Hear our prayer

God our Creator 

in Jesus you showed that people of faith 

are not to hide behind walls of so called holiness. 

That faith should impact on what we do and say 

so bringing justice and mercy for all.

For it is by what we do 

that God understands our true motivations. 

Saying Lord, Lord is not enough.

So we pray that our worship 

may never divorce faith from politics, 

but rather speak your truth to us 

and through us to the powers of the world, 

and that through lively and informed worship, 

we may truly discern how we are to live in relationships.

Lord in Your mercy

Hear our Prayer

God

Father, Son and Holy Spirit

one in perfect community. 

We thank you for inviting us into your community.

We ask that you might give us a deeper insight

so that we might understand those in the wider world 

who by their loving 

transform lives and the creation.

Help us to see that they too are  part of your kingdom, 

people of other faiths and sometimes non,

who we carelessly would exclude 

because we fail to understand

the Church is not the Kingdom of God,

and we are to be faithful co workers with you

and see the kingdom breaking in. 

Lord in Your Mercy

Hear our prayer

Help us then God 

to Love as you Love

to make our prayers real

and to bear the cost of doing so.

For we too place our hope

in your eternal dream 

for a transformed humanity

and world.

Amen.

© Mark Goodhand 22nd August 2026