13 November 2014
Collects
Prayers
developed from the daily readings
Thursday 13
November 2014
Morning
Prayer
Psalm 35: 1 – 17
This section of the psalm asks for God to contend with
personal enemies: those who fight, who devise evil, who ensnare, who are
malicious witnesses, who repay good for evil and, who mock. The psalmist asks,
“say to my soul ‘I am your salvation’ ” (v.3).
Jonah 4
Jonah, angry with God says basically, “I knew it! I
knew in your mercy you would not harm them.” This enables him to excuse his
disobedient act of going to Tarshish. He goes out of the city and builds
himself a booth to see what happens. God makes a vine grow overnight which gives
Jonah extra shade and for which Jonah is grateful. The next day a worm eats and
kills the vine. Jonah is so hot he begs to die. God asks him whether he is
justified in being angry about a vine (one he didn’t even grow himself) and
Jonah says, “Yes, angry enough to die” (v.9). So God compares the number of
people in Nineveh, who are saved to the vine and asks, “And should I not be
concerned about Nineveh?” (v.11).
Matthew 23: 29 – 39
Jesus indicts those Pharisees who venerate the
prophets and claim that if they had been alive they would not have killed or
harmed those prophets. Jesus says that he will send more prophets, sages and
scribes, who they will kill, crucify, flog in their synagogues and harry from
town to town. More guilt will come on them as a result. Jesus laments over
Jerusalem and says how often he wanted to gather up the people like a chicken
gathers her brood under her wings for protection. But they are not willing.
They will not see Jesus again until they can say, “Blessed is the one who comes
in the name of the Lord” (v. 39).
Collect for
Morning Prayer
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| Morning flower The Abbey Jamberoo NSW 2012 L Osburn |
Thursday 13
November 2014
Evening
Prayer
Psalms 35: 18 – 29 and 36
The end of the first psalm continues the plea for God
to contend with personal enemies and vows to praise God when the psalmist is
vindicated.
The second psalm describes the character of those who
are wicked. It then describes the character of God “For with you is the
fountain of life; in your light we see light”(v.9). The psalm ends in a plea
for steadfast love and salvation.
Wisdom 1: 16 – 2: 11
Here the ungodly and their reasoning are explored.
Life to them is short and sorrowful. When it is over it is over. For them, being
born is a chance and once people are dead we are gone and forgotten. A life of
happiness is pursued – enjoying the world like children, filling up with costly
wine, using costly perfumes, not missing a spring flower, rosebuds, parties and
thinking this is their due. As a result the righteous poor, the widowed and
aged are oppressed. The law of might is the law of right and the weak are
counted as useless.
Revelation
4
John has
a vision where he his taken up in the spirit to a throne with one seated on it
and he describes the details around. 24 elders worshipping, 4 creatures with
eyes seeing all, lamp stands and a crystal sea. Without ceasing the creatures
sing “Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to
come” (v.8). All around sing a response.
Collect for
Evening Prayer
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| Parrots The Abbey Jamberoo NSW 2012 L Osburn |
Holy and magnificent God, your
love for us and promise for us is eternal. You give us the world to delight in
and more, you give us light and insight to care for others, for in those
moments of loving you and loving them are the riches better than fine, fine
gold. Make our lives over in your service and the service of others so that our
short lives are packed with joy and love and worship for you holy Lord, holy and
mighty, holy and eternal through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.
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