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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