Thursday 9 October 2014

10 October 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 


Friday 10 October 2014 
Morning Prayer

Psalms 92 and 93

In the first psalm God’s faithfulness and steadfast love is praised. On this occasion the King’s enemies have failed in some other place and are no more. Everything has been restored. The righteous people prosper.

In the second psalm God’s greatness is praised – more powerful than floods, more powerful than the seas. God’s commandments are sure and God lives in holiness.

Zechariah  1: 18 – 2: 13

Zechariah has a vision part of which is recounted in this section. He sees four horns that represent the four powerful nations and four blacksmiths come to destroy them. Then Zechariah sees a man about to measure the area that is Jerusalem predicting that the city will be so big it will have no walls and God will be a wall of fire around it.

Zechariah hears instructions to escape to Zion. The Lord will come and live in Zion and the people will be God’s people. The people are to be silent before God who is moving and active in the world.

Matthew 12: 22 – 37

Some Pharisees accuse Jesus of being in league with the devil since he orders demons out of people. But, it is not in the devil’s interest to have his kingdom divided against itself; under whose power do their own exorcist’s work? They can accept that their own exorcists also evil or accept that the Kingdom of God is with them now. Jesus’ power is be stronger than the one keeping the demon in. So it follows that anyone who isn’t with Jesus is against Him.

He accepts that humans will say derogatory things about Him but they are not to do so about the Holy Spirit – now or in the future.

Jesus challenges the Pharisees to decide whether He is good and all that comes from Him is good or decide He is bad and that all that comes from him is bad. He then shows that since dreadful things comes out of their mouths they are bad to the core. People who are good inside produce good words and it is by our words – what we produce, we will be judged.


Collect for Morning Prayer

Lucky Bay
Cape Le Grand National Park WA
 2014 L Osburn

Almighty God you are more powerful than any army, evil, flood or tsunami. From you come love, freedom, hope and grace. May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable to you this day and every day of our lives so that we may with confidence approach you and receive your everlasting love through Jesus Christ who died for us. Amen.




Friday 10  October 2014
Evening Prayer

Psalm 94

The psalmist calls people to remember that God does can and will act for the righteous. We are all reminded that nothing is hidden from God who formed all ears, all types of eyes. Will God not be able to see or hear what we are up to? The psalmist writes that disciplined believers are blessed, that the Lord is there for them and consoles. The Lord helps.

1 Maccabees 13: 41 – 53

The land is now free from all invaders from other countries and Simon now high priest and commander lays siege on Gazara, allows the inhabitant to repent, cleanses the city and installs faithful people in the houses. He does the same in Jerusalem and there is great celebration at the cleansing and restoration of the city. Simon then makes his son John, the commander.

Philemon 1 – 14

Paul sends this letter with Onesimus who was a slave and had left. Paul attests to Onesimus’s usefulness and asks that Philemon welcome Onesimus. Paul wanted to keep Onesimus but instead sends him back for Philemon to make a decision.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Eucla looking over the Southern Ocean
WA 2014 L Osburn

Wonderful God, nothing is hidden from you and through you all things are restored. Be with us this night, free us from all the situations that oppress us, restore us, console us and refresh us so that we may rise with energy and enthusiasm to serve you in this world you love through Jesus Christ our Lord and your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.

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