Wednesday 30 July 2014

31 July 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 


Thursday 31 July 2014 
Morning Prayer

Psalm 59

The psalmist is being stalked so that he may be killed. Protection is requested but not the death of those who seek his life – just that they may be brought down and caught up in their own anger.

The psalmist will praise God’s provision of safety and his steadfast love.

Hosea 4: 1 – 9

The context is after the death of Jeroboam II. God indicts Israel for her people are disloyal, following other gods, treacherous with each other, causing harm and grief to people and to the environment. The priests and prophets are stumbling and misleading. God is stepping back from them. He will forget them and their children.

John 9: 18 – 38

The Pharisees call the parents of the man whose sight Jesus restored. They verify the man had been born blind. The parents will not be tricked into saying Jesus is the Messiah since if they do they will be excluded from the synagogue. Instead they indicate their son is an adult, he is competent to answer questions and he was there when Jesus healed him; ask him.

The Pharisees interrogate the man again. They accuse him of being a disciple and say they don’t know where Jesus comes from. The man tells them this is a puzzle since we know God does not listen to sinners only those who worship and obey. He tells them that never has a blind person been restored to sight, it follows that if Jesus were not from God he could do nothing. The Pharisees reject the message and the man and drive him out of the synagogue.

Jesus hears and seeks out the man who believes and worships him.


Collect for Morning Prayer

Di's Pool
Mandurah WA 2014 L osburn

Nurturing and protecting God, without you we stumble; we blindly hurt each other and everything around us. You hear the pain of those who believe and you come to us. Help us feel the security of restoration with you so that we like the man who can now see, worship at your feet safe in the knowledge that you are here with us through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.





Thursday 31 July 2014
Evening Prayer

Psalms 58 and 79

In the first psalm the writer is truly angry about the actions of the wicked and wants their power to be removed and for them to just disappear – permanently! Things are so bad the psalmist wants a reward and vindication for the righteous now and for judgment to come to earth instantly.

In the second psalm Jerusalem has been destroyed and the psalmist in deep, angry grief calls for vengeful punishment of the godless nations that caused the destruction.

Ezekiel 38: 14 – 23 and 39: 21 – 29

Ezekiel prophesies about a great swarming army coming to a peaceful Israel for destruction. But God will utterly destroy the invaders in a cataclysmic way. As a result everyone will know that God is Lord and Israel is restored. God’s spirit will be poured out on God’s people.

Romans 5: 12 – 21

Paul explains that through Adam sin entered the world and all are covered by it. The Law just made the sins more clear: identifiable, countable. Thus sin multiplied. But Christ’s death and resurrection brings justification for all through grace. Grace abounds that we may have eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Collect for Evening Prayer


Pink Frangipani
Mandurah WA 2014 L Osburn
Merciful and gracious God, the sinful behaviours of humans are appalling and they are as numerous as a great swarming army. But you sent your son Jesus to live with us, to die for us and to destroy the power of sin forever. We do not have the power to do this, only you. Help us to reflect on how wondrous is your gift of grace so that we may humbly and deeply worship you and give you thanks and praise through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.

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