14 October 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Tuesday 14 October 2014 

Morning Prayer

Psalms 108 and 109: 20 – 30

The psalmist is David. He rises before dawn singing praises to God and showing his steadfast love of God. He asks for victories in battles recalling the promises of God.

The second segment is someone who has enemies who have cursed him. Instead he fasts and asks for God’s blessings and safety. His redemption will be enough to put the accusers to shame.

Zechariah 6

Zechariah’s next vision is of four war chariots drawn by different coloured horses coming out through the mountainous, bronze gates of heaven. They are to patrol the earth in 4 wind directions. Peace is reported in the north – the place from which evil comes.

Zechariah is told to get silver and gold from a group of exiles, have it fashioned into a crown and put on the head of one of the high priests of the Davidic line called Joshua. It will be this one who builds the real temple of the Lord, sits on the throne and rules yet is priest too. The crown will be in the safe keeping of those who gave the metal and the gold smith until the messiah comes. People from all nations will come to build the temple. This will occur if the people diligently obey God.

Matthew 13: 18 – 30

Jesus explains the parable of the sower. Wheat grains on the path are people who hear of the kingdom, do not understand and their hearts are taken by the evil one. Wheat grains among the rocks are people who respond, hear the message with joy, have no roots and whither when persecution comes on account of the word. Wheat grains among the thorns are those who hear and believe but are troubled by the cares of the world and urge for wealth – their yield is poor. Wheat grains in good soil are those who hear, understand, and produce an unimaginably big yield.

Jesus tells a second parable about a man who sows seeds in a field but at night and enemy comes and sows weeds among the grain. The field then is full of plants and weeds. The servants report to the owner and ask should they take the weeds out? The owner says not to because of the collateral damage on the crop. Wait until the harvest and separate the plants then burn the weeds together and gather the good grain.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Wheat and Canola.
Rutherglen Vic 2014 L Osburn

Holy and merciful God you love us and want us to be with you in peace. To do this all of us have a role in understanding and helping others to hear and understand your word and your gifts of grace. Help us to support each other in faith and love to ensure we are not turned aside by the cares of the world and not tempted to weed but to keep encouraging the growth of your faithful people so that we all are part of building your eternal kingdom through Jesus Christ who died for us. Amen.

Tuesday 14 October 2014

Evening Prayer

Psalm 119: 105 – 128

This psalm is full of powerful one-liners. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path”; “You are my hiding place and my shield”; “Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love, and teach me your statutes”; “Truly I love your commandments more than gold, more than fine gold”.

Daniel 2: 1 – 16

The King, Nebuchadnezzar has a dream that troubles him and he wants it interpreted. So that he can trust the interpretation he demands that anyone who could do so also has to tell him the dream. This is impossible. The King orders the death of the wise, magicians, sorcerers etc. Daniel asks the executioner for some time to reflect and promises to be able to interpret the dream.

1 Peter 1: 10 – 17

The ancient prophets revealed things, which applied to their lives, community and future that are also consistent with the Gospel news. So the ancient prophets were not seeking for themselves alone but for people now. So too are things now revealed that the angels did not know.

Peter calls us to be better, disciplined, full of hope in the grace of Christ and seek to be holy. Recognise the Christ within and act from that “You shall be holy, for I am holy” (v.16).

Collect for Evening Prayer

Small fig tree bearing fruit
Armadale WA 2014
L Osburn

Great and gracious Lord you call us to recognise your Holy Spirit in our selves and to act out of your power, your love and your grace. For us, of our own will and abilities this is as impossible as the task set for Daniel. Guide us therefore to read your word, to come to you, to keep your commandments and fix our hopes on Christ so that we may be able to tap your holiness within and come closer to you every moment of our lives through Jesus Christ our Lord and your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.