1 August 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Friday 1 August 2014 

Morning Prayer

Psalm 74

The community laments.  Enemies have come and destroyed the city, the temple and everything that gives identity to the people. An appeal is made to God using stories of creation and provision for the people. The enemy ridicules and the soul of the people is at risk of being destroyed. The psalmist asks to Lord to rise up for the people’s sake.

Hosea 4: 10 – 5: 4

Israel and all her leaders and priests are unfaithful. They run after other God’s. Their focus is on consumption. This spirit is within them and they are not with God.

John 9: 39 – 10: 18

Jesus says that he has come in judgement that the people who are blind may see and those that see become blind. The Pharisees protest. Jesus tells them that by saying “we see” they are indeed blind.

Jesus uses a metaphor of the Good Shepherd to explain. There is a sheep pen and one legitimate way to get in. Anyone who jumps the fence does not have the sheep’s interest at heart. Jesus enters the correct way and the gate is opened for him to take the sheep to the good pasture. Only Jesus’ sheep recognise him and follow.

He moves the metaphor now so it is from the sheep’s perspective. As far as they are concerned Jesus is their way out – he is their gate to the green pasture, to life in abundance. Anyone else leads the sheep to destruction – they are thieves and bandits.

He now compares “the good shepherd” to other shepherds – what does it take to be “good”? The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep and does not run away when danger approaches. It is his concern for all sheep, including some from other sheepfolds. All sheep will become one flock under one shepherd.

God loves Jesus because he will willingly lay down his life and he will take it up again as his father, God has commanded.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Morning bloom
Mandurah WA 2014 L Osburn

Faithful God, who created everything there is, remind us that we are your people. Remind us that you desire eternal life with and for us. Remind us too that you sent Christ who of his own will gave up his life that we may know our identity so that by our lives, we can lead others to your love and grace through Jesus Christ our Lord and your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen

Friday 1 August 2014

Evening Prayer

Psalms 75 and 76

The first psalm begins with praise and moves to God as judge, putting down the boastful wicked and lifting up the righteous.

In second psalm God is portrayed as a mighty warrior who protects the poor and oppressed against foes, even armies of nations. Kneeling in thanks and praise to God is the only thing to do when God protects against human wrath.

Ezekiel 40: 1 – 5 and 42: 15 – 43: 12

Ezekiel has a vision where he is taken to a hill and there is a messenger beside him with measuring implements. The messenger measures the dimension of the temple. Then Ezekiel, in his vision is lifted into the temple, sees the Glory of God returning to the temple and hears God’s voice saying that the temple is where God connects to the earth. Ezekiel is charged to tell the people the dimensions of the temple to be built.

Romans 6: 1 – 11

Paul reminds us that through baptism in Christ we need to consider ourselves dead to sin and therefore not a slave to sin anymore. We are alive in Christ and walking in newness of life. He charges us to sin no more and walk in newness of life gained for us by Christ’s death and resurrection.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Garden chair
Mandurah WA 2014 L Osburn

God at the centre of our lives who sends messengers, prophets and your own son to us keep our focus on you. Be with us now as we reflect on Christ’s death and resurrection that frees us from sin forever. Help us every moment to choose newness of life and the freedom that comes from your great gift of grace through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen