18 November 2014

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Tuesday 18 November 2014 

Morning Prayer

Psalms 41 and 44: 1 - 9

The psalmist is sick. Illness is seen as punishment for sin. Enemies hope the psalmist will die but come and visit. They are pleasant with him then make plots when they leave. Even the psalmist’s best friend has turned his back. The psalmist prays for healing, restoration and vindication. God is blessed.

Zechariah 9: 11 – 10: 5

God will provide freedom for the prisoners and will be with his people against the opponents. The Lord will appear and like lightning, trumpets and whirlwinds go before them in the final battle to save His people. God’s people are precious like jewels. God is in charge of the rain for crops and when the people ask he will provide.

There are false gods, false diviners and false prophets and the people wander like sheep without a shepherd.

The Lord cares for His people and expects better of the current leadership. Everything needed to fight against the foe will come from the people. The Lord is with the people.

Matthew 25: 1 – 13

Jesus says the kingdom of heaven will be like this parable. Ten bridesmaids go out to welcome a bridegroom. Five of them take extra oil in case there is a delay. Five don’t. The Groom is delayed and five have insufficient oil so need to go and get more as the groom approaches. This results in them being late for the wedding feast, not recognised by the groom and not allowed in.

We are to keep “oil in our lamps” and keep awake ready for the day the Lord comes.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Grevillea
The Abbey Jamberoo NSW
2012 L Osburn

Merciful God you are with us always in sickness and in conditions of oppression. Help us to keep ourselves ready for you, open to your call and help us too, to lead others to do the same so that we all have “oil in our lamps” that can burn brightly until the break of your new day through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord and Your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.

Tuesday 18 November 2014

Evening Prayer

Psalm 44: 10 – 27

In this psalm there has been a great defeat. The people are scattered, enslaved, had everything taken and destroyed. They are humiliated, derided, taunted, reviled and disgraced. But they do not forget God’s promise or turn their hearts away. If they do, would not God discover it? God knows our heart’s secrets. The psalmist ends with a call to God to rise, to come to our aid and redeem us through steadfast love.

Wisdom 5

In the most beautiful poetic language this section tells how the ungodly will view the righteous and understand that all their wickedness and persecution of the righteous might have seems wise at the time but is utter foolishness.

Revelation 7: 9 – 17

John’s vision shows him a multitude of people from every country clothed in white praising God and the Lamb. Then all the angels worship God. Someone asks who are these people dressed in white? These are the ones who come out of the great ordeal. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. They worship God continually. They hunger and thirst no more. There is no scorching heat. The Lamb is their shepherd and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Bottlebrush
The Abbey Jamberoo NSW
2012 L Osburn

Holy and almighty God, you are the source of all compassion, be with us this night and be with our families. Help us through all the trials we have and especially those of us who are oppressed, in war zones or suffering from grave illnesses. Help us to be strong in our faith so that we may be among those who have faithfully survived the great ordeal and belong with you forever praising your holy name through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.