15 April 2014
Collects
Prayers
developed from the daily readings
Tuesday 15
April 2014
Morning
Prayer
Psalm 27
“The Lord is my light and salvation whom shall I fear”
(v. 1). The psalm begins with great words of consolation. The psalmist is in
trouble and waits patiently on the Lord. Living close to and with God, being in
God’s presence is the only thing desired. The psalmist promises sacrifices of
praise and song. “ ‘Come,’ my heart says, ‘seek his face.’” (v.8).
Lamentations 3: 1 – 18 (19 – 30)
The first section described dreadful personal and
physical distress: “my soul is bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness
is” (v.17). The lament moves on calling to mind God’s steadfast love and that
God does listen to and come to those who wait for him. Sometimes it is right to
sit quietly and wait.
Mark 12: 13 – 34
Jesus is tested about the payment of taxes. He asks
for a coin. On the coin is the head and title of the emperor. Hebrew coins were
minted with no graven images, so he was given a Roman coin. Jesus says “give to
the emperor the things that are the emperor’s and to God the things that are
God’s.” As everything seen and unseen is God’s, the premise of the question has
shifted.
Technical questions about who is whose spouse in
heaven are put to Jesus. Jesus’s answer indicates their lack of understanding
of the power of God or the conversation of God with Moses (the burning bush)
where God says he is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – present tense. He is
the God of the living.
Finally someone tests him on the fundamental of Jewish
belief, “which is the greatest commandment?” Jesus answers with the words of
the Shema (Hebrew for listen) and with love
your neighbour as yourself. The questioner agrees and says these are more
important than any offerings and sacrifices.
Collect for
Morning Prayer
 |
| Cape Leuuwin Lighthouse WA (where the Southern and Indian Oceans meet) 2014 L Osburn |
Tuesday 15 April
2014
Evening
Prayer
Psalm 69: 1 – 21
The psalmist is in deep trouble. The psalm suggests he
has been fiercely promoting a particular policy or procedure and the outcomes
are negative and unexpected so that his reputation is destroyed. He admits he
was wrong. He is doing penance and now is suffering ridicule and community
humiliation. The psalmist asks for rescue and redemption and will sit
faithfully and wait for God’s response.
Lamentations 3: 40 – 51
The lamentation moves on to self-examination and
repentance to admitting the rebellion and transgressions. There is an
acceptance that the offences are great and, as a result, prayers appear to be
unheard. Enemies, panic, devastation and destruction are in charge. Grief is
overwhelming.
Philippians 3: 7 –16
Paul here says that the things he most valued and
prized are, when compared to the value of knowing Christ, now rubbish. He is
saying everything good in his life pales into insignificance; it does not mean
that it was not good, or right. It isn’t a case of him being good and therefore
earning closeness to God. It is because of faith he seeks closeness to Christ,
because Christ has made Paul his own.
Paul then says, this doesn’t mean he stops. With Christ’s aid he strains
forward, like a runner straining for the finishing line, waiting for Christ’s
call.
Collect for
Evening Prayer
 |
| Great Australian Bight SA 2014 L Osburn |
Wise and
powerful God, you peel back our eyes to our folly. Jerusalem and the temple,
the great prize and treasure are just a vehicle for connection with you. When we
value the vehicle more than the connection, we lose our way. All our pious
efforts are nothing compared to seeking you. Help us now as we reflect on this
day to set aside the concerns that steer us away from you, to sit and seek your
face and closeness through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, your love our Father,
and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment