18 October 2014
Collects
Prayers developed from the daily
readings
Saturday 18 October 2014
Morning Prayer
Psalm 107: 1 – 22
Whether we are lost in a dry place, imprisoned or sick
we are encouraged to “cry to the Lord whose steadfast love endures forever”.
Ezra 6: 1 – 15
King Darius delivers an edict based on a scroll found
in archives at Ecbatana showing that Cyrus decreed the temple be built, paid
for from treasury and the temple vessels returned. Darius adds that the
governor should allow the building to proceed, use the taxes from the region to
fund it, provide the priests and builders with food and with the animals they
need to sacrifice. Further, people who alter the edict will have their own
house destroyed. The governor and his associates comply and the temple is
completed in the sixth year of Darius’ reign, fulfilling all the prophesies of
Haggai and Zechariah.
Matthew 14: 22 – 36
Jesus sends the disciples on ahead by boat to cross
Lake Galilee. He goes up the mountain to pray alone. There are high winds on
the lake and the boat is being battered. By morning the disciples see Jesus
coming to them walking on the water. The disciples think it is a ghost and are
filled with fear. Jesus speaks, they recognise him and Peter asks can he walk on
water too. He gets out of the boat then takes his eye off Jesus, feels the fear
again and sinks. He cries out to Jesus. Jesus rescues him. Jesus asks why did
Peter doubt. Then those on the boat worship him: truly he is the Son of God.
They land at Gennesaret and Jesus heals more people.
Collect for Morning Prayer
Storm and Promise on the Way Near Yass NSW 2013 L Osburn |
Saturday 18 October 2014
Evening Prayer
Psalm 107:
23 – 43
The psalmist recalls some of God’s saving and
restoring actions – saving sailors and bringing rain to the desert. We are
reminded that faithfulness leads to hope, and pride leads to being brought low.
We are to call on the Lord for our great provision.
Daniel 3: 16 – 30
Schadrach, Meshach and Abednego tell the King that if
God can deliver them from the furnace may he do it but even if their God does
not rescue them from the furnace they will not bow down to another god or to
the idol he built. Nebuchadnezzar has them thrown into a furnace so hot the men
who throw them in perish.
The King sees 4 people in the furnace: one who looks
like a god. He orders the young men to come out. They are unharmed. The King
recognises the power of God and decrees that anyone who utters blasphemy
against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego shall be torn limb from limb
and their houses made a ruin since there is no other God who can deliver in
this way. He promotes the three men.
Peter encourages all to be obedient even to harsh and
unfair rule. If we endure being beaten for something we did wrong there is no
credit in that. Christ was without blemish and had uttered no deceit yet he was
crucified. He didn’t fight back or abuse. Instead he put himself in God’s hands
– gave himself to the one who judges justly. By Christ we have been healed and
set free. He is the shepherd and guardian of our souls.
Collect for Evening Prayer
The Nullabor Plain (no trees at all) Nullabor WA 2014 L Osburn |
God of restoration and hope you show us that trying to act from our own
power – even if we are powerful Kings – leads to embarrassing shame and
remorse. Faithfulness however, leads to hope and restoration. Fill us with
faith, calm and prayerfulness so that we may endure, bring hope to others and
glory to you through Jesus Christ and your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.
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