3 June 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Tuesday 3 June 2014

Morning Prayer   

Psalm 78: 16 – 38

This portion of the psalm recounts the complaints against God when the Israelites were in the desert with Moses. Water was produced from rocks, food fell from heaven, both bread and birds. They had little faith and yet when they repented, God forgave.

Numbers 23: 13 – 30

Again Balak (king of Moab) takes Balaam (diviner from Mesopotamia) to a different place where they can see the nation of Israel. Again seven altars are constructed for sacrifice of a ram and bull on each. Balaam stands aside to hear God’s word.

Balaam says: God does not lie, He does not change his mind and, He speaks and it is done. Balaam says God told him to bless so he blessed. There is no misfortune for Israel. God is with them.

Balak, unhappy, takes Balaam to yet another place where altars are built and sacrifices made.

John 16: 25 – 17: 5

Jesus tells the disciples that he uses figures of speech to help them understand what he means. Jesus will teach them more clearly in days to come not through speech. Then they will ask God for things in Jesus’s name because God loves them and they believe in Jesus. Jesus is going to the Father.

The disciples say they understand that Jesus knows all things and that Jesus is from God. Jesus gently challenges them and says that soon they will be scattered, will go home and leave Jesus. But Jesus will not be alone – God is with Him. He warns them that they will be persecuted and to have courage.

Jesus prays: the hour has come for Jesus and God to be glorified, for Christ to have the authority to give eternal life and for the people to know God, the only God and Jesus who is from God. Jesus says he has glorified God by doing the work he was sent to do and asks now to re-experience God’s glory as he did before earth was created.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Pumping the water for life
Armadale WA 2014 L Osburn

God of great and generous grace, you unshakably commit yourself to us, provide for us, bless us and forgive us. You sent your Son to teach us, redeem us and give us eternal life and unity with you. We praise and glorify you. Guide us today so that all our actions and words demonstrate your love and by our actions your glory is revealed through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.

Tuesday 3 June 2014

Evening Prayer

Psalm 78: 39 – 70

The psalmist shows how short the memories of humans are and how fickle. The Israelites in the desert did not remember or take into account the miracles of God that enabled their freedom. They had little faith. God held on and made decisions about the future of the people and who would lead them, for example choosing the line of Judah rather than the line of Joseph: choosing David and Mt Zion. Whether humans were faithful or not, God still guided them.

Deuteronomy 31: 23 – 32: 9

God commissions Joshua to lead the people into the Promised Land. Moses completes the Book of Law and decrees that it should be with the Ark of the Covenant because the people will rebel again and need the reminder. He recites the Book of Law to the elders. Moses recites his song proclaiming the greatness of God and how the Israelites are under the direct care and concern of the one almighty God.

1 Corinthians 12: 1 – 13

Paul explains the spiritual gifts. The Spirit of God within would never curse Jesus but will proclaim Jesus Lord. There is only one Spirit and many gifts and many out-workings of that Spirit but it is God alone who activates the Spirit in people for the good of all. Some will speak wisely and others will share knowledge. Some will have great faith, do miracles, prophecy, some speak in tongues and others interpret that speech. Whatever the gifts and their out-workings we are united as one body in Christ through baptism and all have the same spirit within.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Fig bearing fruit Armadale WA
2014 L Osburn

Great commissioner, you choose us, resource us, equip us and love us into action for the good of all. We give thanks to you for your gifts of grace. As we reflect on today, help us identify and appreciate your gifts to us and to those in our communities and how those gifts of your Spirit are revealed and manifest so that we recognise, acknowledge and support all your faithful people and continue to do your will in unity and joy through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and the your Holy Spirit. Amen.