11 October 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Saturday 11 October 2014 

Morning Prayer

Psalms 95 and 96

Sing to God songs of praise for all things God has done for us. Be joyful. Make a noise. Do not harden your heart like the Israelites did when they were wandering in the wilderness.

Sing praise to the Lord! Ascribe to God the glory of creation. Let everything, the heavens, the trees, everything sing and praise God.

Zechariah  3: 1 – 4: 7

Zechariah’s vision continues. He sees Joshua who represents Jerusalem’s prayers to God, clothed in dirty rags and being accused by Satan. The Lord rebukes Satan and Joshua is given clean clothes and a new turban. The sins of Jerusalem are cleaned away and Joshua’s capacity to represent is affirmed. Joshua is warned that the people need to follow God’s way.

The angel who is with Zechariah gets him to pay attention and describe what he sees. It is a lampstand with a large bowl and seven lamps flanked by two olive trees. This represents God’s word and presence throughout the world. Zerubbabel’s obstacles will be removed and he will complete the temple.

Matthew 12: 38 – 50

The Pharisees and scribes ask for a sign from Jesus. As with the temptation in the wilderness Jesus doesn’t “do signs”. God works through Jesus. If Jesus controls the signs and miracles the Pharisees and scribes will focus on Him not on God – just like adultery. The sign they will see is the sign of Jonah being definitely lost for three days – Jonah in a whale – restored, Jesus dead and buried –resurrected. Both of these are only in the power and will of God. And the Pharisees and scribes are blind – they want God to fit their formularies. Nineveh and the Queen of Sheba’s eyes are more open.

Next Jesus talks about someone exorcised but who does not take the risk and commit – who does not fill up the inner self with God. The demons return with reinforcements. It is only through following Jesus, through doing the will of God that we become brothers and sisters of Christ and the demons cannot get a stronghold.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Suffer the little children to come to me.
New Norcia Benedictine Community WA
2014 L Osburn

Wonderful and glorious God you care for all of us in every part of your universe. You forgive us when we come to you. You fill us with good things when we commit to you and give our lives to you. We thank you and praise you for all your gifts of love especially Jesus Christ your Son our Lord who died for us. Give us the strength to always focus on you, to take the risks necessary to do your will so that we may always be part of Christ’s family with you forever, Amen.

Saturday 11 October 2014

Evening Prayer

Psalms 97 and 98

The first psalm celebrates God using the theme of God as sovereign. Let everyone who is faithful rejoice and praise God.

The psalm is a summons to all nations and people to praise the Lord and rejoice in this name. God’s is the victory, God’s is the strength and we are God’s people.

1 Maccabees 14: 4 – 15

Demetrius is taken captive in Persia so Simon’s rule is peaceful and the boundaries are expanded to include the port of Joppa. The country returns to worshipping God, there is prosperity, the humble are helped, law is restored and the sanctuary made glorious.

Philemon 15 – 25

Paul continues entreating Philemon to take back Onesimus as a beloved brother, not as a slave and Paul offers to pay anything that Onesimus might owe Philemon.  Paul indicates that he will visit and sends greetings from those imprisoned with him and fellow workers.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Indigenous art at New Norcia
Benedictine Community WA
2014 L Osburn

God of restoration and repair, you bring peace and prosperity to war-riven nations and change relationships from slavery to equality. Nothing is beyond you. We praise you and thank you for all the gifts we have from you. Make us generous. Help us share with the whole world so that knowledge of your love may spread and the whole earth rejoice and praise you through Jesus Christ our Lord and your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.