Monday 28 July 2014

29 July 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 


Tuesday 29 July 2014 
Morning Prayer

Psalm 69: 1 – 16

This psalmist is a lowly servant of the Lord and through zeal has done something that causes him to be the butt of jokes and ridicule. The psalmist is fasting and in sackcloth. He pleads for deliverance and praises God.

Hosea 2: 1 – 13

Israel is the one who is going after other Gods and who believes all wealth and prosperity comes from that exchange. In reality it is God who provides the goods and wealth that Israel thinks comes from worshipping the Baals. Hosea prophesies humiliation unless Israel turns back to God.

John 8: 48 – 59

Jesus’s words in the temple challenge the Jews who are listening and seek to stone him. He tells them: he honours God and they do not honour him, not that he seeks his own glory, only God’s; those who keep his word will not taste death – and they scoff asking is he greater than all the prophets and patriarchs who have died? They ask who does he claim to be and he answers, God will glorify him. Jesus knows God and does his will. He also says that Abraham rejoiced that he would see Jesus. Finally Jesus says “Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am” (v.58).


Collect for Morning Prayer

At the end of our country, at the end of a pier
at the end of its life, a lookout to
aid and shelter the sea birds
Eucla The Old Pier WA 2014 L Osburn

Life-giving God, we are in awe of your presence, your provision for us and your promise of life eternal. Assist us today to respect those we meet, listen to their concerns, to be faithful to you without being over zealous and if we make an error, give us your grace to repent so that our lives bring you glory and honour through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.






Tuesday 29 July 2014
Evening Prayer

Psalm 69: 17 – 23 (24 – 30) 31 - 38
The psalmist praises the Lord and is suffering from insults and dishonour. When he goes for counsel and support the response is bitter, and heart-breaking – no real compassion. The psalmist is very angry, he wants God’s wrath to destroy and punish, but he leaves that anger with and for God. The psalmist praises God, who unlike a God in the form of a bull, will listen. The psalmist ends in praise and a plea to God to come quickly.


Ezekiel 37: 1 – 14

Ezekiel has the vision of the valley of dry bones. God tells him to prophesy to the bones. Through the prophecy the bones, sinews, flesh and skin are reconstituted. Until Ezekiel prophesies to the breath they are not alive. With the breath they live and stand.

God explains the vision that this is Israel, cut off, dismembered and dried-up. They will be returned to their own soil and God’s spirit will be put in them and they will live.

Romans 4: 13 – 25

Paul discusses Abraham’s faith that he had before there was the Law. Abraham trusted God and was convince God would do as promised – including that he would be the father of many even when he and his wife were old. Abraham’s faith was the key to Abraham’s righteousness. Faith in Christ likewise will be reckoned to us as righteousness.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Eucalypt in the setting sunlight
Eucla WA 2014 L Osburn
Life-giving spirit, you listen to us and carry our burdens of sorrow, loss and anger. Be with us as we reflect on our lives and our world. Remind us that renewal and repair is possible with your spirit so that we may step out in faith secure in the knowledge that you always listen and fulfil your promises through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

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