17 May 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Saturday 17 May 2014 

Morning Prayer   

Psalm 40

The psalmist praises God for responding to him in a time of need. People who trust in God are blessed. God is said to have opened the psalmist’s ears and the psalmist has found himself in the scriptures. Ongoing mercy, love and faithfulness are requested God so that the psalmist can be supported through times of danger and harm. The psalm ends in praise.

Numbers 12

Miriam and Aaron criticise Moses’s on two grounds: first his choice of wife, and second that now others were also prophesying Moses’s leadership could be challenged. God calls all three to the tent of meeting and explains the different relationship he has with Moses – direct – compared to via dreams and visions with prophets. Miriam turns white and has to be excluded from the camp for seven days. Aaron repents as soon as he sees Miriam’s condition.

John 12: 9 – 19

A crowd comes to Bethany to see Jesus and Lazarus. The chief priests decide both should die since it was Lazarus’s resurrection that drew many to believe in Jesus. The next day the crowd hears Jesus is coming to Jerusalem so they gather with palm branches and shout “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord – the King of Israel!” (v.13).

The disciples do not understand this at the time but do later. The Pharisees realise that the people are with Jesus and nothing can be done to change that.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Path Sue's Bridge WA
2014 L Osburn

Great and all-knowing Father your way is the right way. Be with us today as we discern how to respond to change and challenge. Open our ears. Help us find ourselves in your scriptures. Help us recall that sometimes even the most devout and faithful of your people can miss your cues and not understand what is happening or why so that we may enable your will to be done and bear witness to your mercy and grace through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Saturday 17 May  2014

Evening Prayer

Psalms 42 and 43

The psalmist is sad, perhaps sick and longing to go to the temple since that is where God is thought to dwell. The psalmist’s soul longs for God.

Here the psalmist is ill and unable to travel to the temple.

Illness was thought to be evidence of separation from God. The psalmist asks that someone see that he is not unworthy and take him to the temple.

Exodus 31

God tells Moses the names of particular people who have the crafts skills to design and construct what is required in the tent of meeting and the Ark of the Covenant. God reinforces the Sabbath as a day of rest and gives Moses the tablets of stone on which the covenant is written.

1 Corinthians 7: 1 – 11

Paul answers a question from the Corinthians (not present in the text) about marriage. Sexual immortality happens and therefore marriage is advised. The wife and the husband are to respect each other and be considerate about conjugal rights. Paul condones temporary separations and he does not condone divorce. He does condone celibacy for those who have the self-control.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Sue's Bridge WA
2014 L Osburn

Holy and loving God you want us to be in close relationship with you and with each other in love, care and respect. Give us the tools and inclination to put as much effort into building the temple for you in our hearts as you gave those first craft workers in the desert and, to recognise your presence in each other so that we demonstrate your love and respect for all people and bring glory to you through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.