7 May 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Wednesday 7 May 2014 

Morning Prayer   

Psalm 19

The sky in silence, every day and every night shows us that God is magnificent. God’s commandments are magnificent. They are right, they delight the heart, they are simple, they are more precious than gold. And the commandments warn us – but can we ever truly detect all our own faults? David asks for help so that he does not transgress*. He finishes with:

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord my rock and my redeemer.”

Leviticus 24

The instructions are given to keep a lamp burning in the sanctuary at night and the amount of bread that is to be given for the priests. 

A man whose mother is Israeli and father Egyptian when in a fight blasphemes. He is processed by being brought to Moses, held in custody, the judgement is made in prayerful reflection. The punishment is that he is taken outside the camp, every person puts their hand on his head. The whole community is involved. Then he is stoned. Blasphemy is a capital offense and the rules apply to all. Then Moses sets the rule about the system of justice. If you kill you will be killed, if you take you must restore, if you harm you will be equally harmed. The rule is for all.

John 9: 24 – 41

Again the Pharisees bring the man who was blind before them. He asks do they want to hear his testimony again so that they can become disciples? They say, no, they are disciples of Moses. The blind man then says: you do not know where this man comes from, and we know God doesn’t listen to sinners but he will listen to someone who worships and obeys God. Never before has anyone’s blindness been cured. If this man is not from God he would not have been able to do what he did. 

The Pharisees exclude the man from the synagogue. Jesus hears, and finds the man, who believes. Jesus then says that he came to help those who cannot see, see and those who think they can see, realise they are blind. The Pharisees challenge Jesus saying that they cannot be blind. Jesus says if they are blind hey would be innocent (they wouldn’t know what they were doing) but since they presume to know, and understand what they are doing, clearly they are sinning.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Wagtails by the Edward River Deniliquin NSW
2014 L Osburn

Patient and compassionate God, we know from Moses, from David and from Christ’s interactions with the blind man and the Pharisees that it is too easy for us to be presumptuous, to assume more knowledge and understanding than we have and assume roles and powers that are not ours. Help us be humble. Help us understand our limits and your magnificence, power, might, faithfulness and presence so that we pass on your compassion and demonstrate our awe, love and respect for you in our lives through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Wednesday 7 May April 2014

Evening Prayer

Psalm 119: 1 – 16

This portion of the psalm celebrates those who know and follow the laws of God. The psalmist asks to be taught and to be assisted to follow these laws.

Exodus 20: 18 – 21: 6

Moses reassures the people that God’s presence is to make it clear that he is real, and that they are not to sin. It is to make clear that worshipping other Gods or idols is not acceptable.

The next section gives rules for the limits of service of a slave and members of the slave’s family. After seven years a slave must be offered freedom.

1 Corinthians 1: 20 – 31

Paul continues that wisdom and capacity for debate are useless when considering Christ.  What God has done looks foolish but is wise. It looks weak but is supreme strength.

Christ is the source of our lives. Christ is God’s wisdom, righteous, sanctification and redemption. We can only boast in Christ.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Bird at Sanctuary Island Deniliquin NSW
2014 L Osburn

Holy God thank you for bringing us to the end of this day. Be with us now and help us to see your hand of wisdom, your love and your presence as we reflect . Help us wonder at your greatness so that we feel that great warmth from knowing that you are the one, we can boast in, only you, through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

*the Hebrew translates presumptuous sin