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Yes, indeed we must pray for our leaders, whether in government, our leaders in the office, church ministries and all those in authority one way or another. For St Paul reminds us that the reason is so that we may be able to live religious and reverent lives in peace and quiet. Let us go even further to pray for the peace of Christ to descend on everyone for He, the Prince of Peace alone can give peace that no one else can!

Likewise, if we ourselves are in positions of authority then we should lead after the heart of Christ Jesus our Lord. For we want to lift our hands up reverently in prayer with no anger or argument. To lead everyone Christian or non-Christian alike to the knowledge, peace and love of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Most importantly, all authority have been given to us to go make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to obey everything our Lord has commanded us. For He is with us to the very end of age. Amen

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First reading

1 Timothy 2:1-8 ·

Pray for everyone to God, who wants everyone to be saved

My advice is that, first of all, there should be prayers offered for everyone – petitions, intercessions and thanksgiving – and especially for kings and others in authority, so that we may be able to live religious and reverent lives in peace and quiet. To do this is right, and will please God our saviour: he wants everyone to be saved and reach full knowledge of the truth. For there is only one God, and there is only one mediator between God and mankind, himself a man, Christ Jesus, who sacrificed himself as a ransom for them all. He is the evidence of this, sent at the appointed time, and I have been named a herald and apostle of it and – I am telling the truth and no lie – a teacher of the faith and the truth to the pagans.

    In every place, then, I want the men to lift their hands up reverently in prayer, with no anger or argument.

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Gospel

Luke 7:1-10

Give the word, and my servant will be healed

When Jesus had come to the end of all he wanted the people to hear, he went into Capernaum. A centurion there had a servant, a favourite of his, who was sick and near death. Having heard about Jesus he sent some Jewish elders to him to ask him to come and heal his servant. When they came to Jesus they pleaded earnestly with him. ‘He deserves this of you’ they said ‘because he is friendly towards our people; in fact, he is the one who built the synagogue.’ So Jesus went with them, and was not very far from the house when the centurion sent word to him by some friends: ‘Sir,’ he said ‘do not put yourself to trouble; because I am not worthy to have you under my roof; and for this same reason I did not presume to come to you myself; but give the word and let my servant be cured. For I am under authority myself, and have soldiers under me; and I say to one man: Go, and he goes; to another: Come here, and he comes; to my servant: Do this, and he does it.’ When Jesus heard these words he was astonished at him and, turning round, said to the crowd following him, ‘I tell you, not even in Israel have I found faith like this.’ And when the messengers got back to the house they found the servant in perfect health.