17 September 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Wednesday 17 September 2014 

Morning Prayer

Psalm 40

The psalmist praises God for responding to him in a time of need. People who trust in God are blessed. God is said to have opened the psalmist’s ears and the psalmist has found himself in the scriptures. Ongoing mercy, love and faithfulness are requested from God so that the psalmist can be supported through times of danger and harm. The psalm ends in praise.

Habakkuk 2: 6 – 17

Habakkuk directs a series of woes to nations that operation from pride and seek wealth. Woe to those who plunder; who fortify their houses against contact with people; who build towns through the suffering of others and who corrupt others. Habakkuk indicts human tyranny and says that the tables will be turned and God will be glorified.

Matthew 5: 13 –26

Jesus says that we are the salt of the earth – we add flavour – but if we become bland we are useless. We are like a city on a hill and cannot be hidden – we are obvious to others. We are like lamps and there is no purpose hiding that lamp. People need to see our actions to have evidence to glorify God.

Jesus says that the Law remains and his teaching does not change it but fulfils it. We too by teaching and following the Law will fulfil it. Jesus takes the Law a step further so that we do not just fulfil the letter of the law but it’s spirit. Thinking about doing something bad is as wrong as actually doing it. We need to bring our thoughts in line with the Law not just our actions. We are to seek reconciliation with people before we seek reconciliation with God.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Off the Pier Ceduna SA
2014 L Osburn

Great God of encouragement, you coach us in how to live and love in your world. You give us the example of your mercy, love and faithfulness to follow. Be with us today as we step out in courage, faith and hope. In every action let your spirit lead us so that we bring our thoughts and deeds in line with your will and fulfilment of your vision to your glory and praise through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Wednesday 17 September 2014

Evening Prayer

Psalms 42 and 43

The psalmist is sad, perhaps sick and longing to go to the temple since that is where God is thought to dwell. The psalmist’s soul longs for God.

Here the psalmist is ill and unable to travel to the temple.

Illness was thought to be evidence of separation from God. The psalmist asks that someone see that he is not unworthy and take him to the temple.

1 Maccabees 1: 41 – 64

Antiochus makes a decree insisting that there be one religion of idol worship throughout the country. The temple is desecrated, circumcision forbidden, scriptures burnt, sacrifices forbidden and violence used against faithful Jews. Great atrocities occur. Many people stand firm. They prefer to die rather than to eat defiled food or profane the holy covenant. They die.

Ephesians 2: 11 – 22

Paul says that through Christ we all belong to God and there is no more distinction between the circumcised and the uncircumcised. Christ is the sacrifice for us. Through his flesh he joins people from other nations to the people of God. We are all reconciled to God. Through Christ we are all joined together and become part of the holy temple, the dwelling place for God across the entire world.

Collect for Evening Prayer

At evening Ceduna SA
2014 L Osburn

Praise to you great and holy Lord. You have made us part of your global temple comprising people from every nation and your chosen people. Through Christ we are now reconciled to you and cannot be separated from a place where we may worship you with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving. Be with us now as we reflect on this gift and open our hearts to you, blessing you and praying for your faithful people everywhere so that they too may be liberated and feel connected to us all and to your love through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.