13 January 2015

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Tuesday 13 January 2015

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).

Genesis 1: 20 – 2: 3

God continues creation with sea life, birds and land creatures. These are all good: we call this the fifth day. Then God increases the diversity of the animals, domestic and wild animals. These are good. God creates humans in the image of God, like God to care for the planet and its creatures. Male and female, God creates them both. God blesses the people and encourages them to multiply and be fruitful. For food there are the seed-bearing plants and every green plant for food. These are all good: we call this the sixth day. Since the beginning of creation work is complete God rests. God blesses this the seventh day and makes it holy.

John 6: 41 – 59

In Capernaum a group of Jews grumble about Jesus’ proclamation of being the bread that came down from heaven – since after all isn’t he Joseph’s who they know? Jesus tells them to cease grumbling. Jesus continues, quoting the prophets saying that no one can come to Jesus unless drawn by God. Jesus quotes the prophets saying, the people have been taught by God: those who listen will come to Jesus. Jesus repeats that those who believe will have eternal life. Jesus is the bread of life – just like the ancients ate manna so not to die, we are to believe in Jesus, take Jesus “on board” so to live eternally. Jesus makes it clear that the bread is Jesus’ flesh that will be given for the life of the world.

The Jews who grumbled now argued – how could Jesus give his flesh for people to eat?

Jesus continues saying that his flesh needs to be assimilated. Moreover the blood in his veins needs to be drunk. Just as Jesus is in the Father and the father in Jesus, so we who feed on Jesus will live.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Black Swans
Mandurah Estuary WA 2014 L Osburn

Awesome God, you create and offer life to us all, you protect and defend us and by your grace we come to know you and the dynamic reality of Jesus. Be with us today when we come across those who cannot yet hear your voice or understand your presence. Help us to be gentle. Stir us to encourage those who have been taught by you and listened to you, those who have received your grace, so that we all may have eternal life with you through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord. Amen.

Tuesday 13 January 2015

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.

Jeremiah 2: 1 – 19

Jeremiah, speaking to Israel reminds the people how like a bride the nation faithfully followed God through the desert and how those who attacked her were punished. But now Israel is chasing other gods and idols. Israel is challenged to look around and find any other nation that has swapped their gods. This is a detestable state of affairs. Their sins are that they have forsaken God and set up their own ineffectual gods. Israel was not originally a slave people so why would they want to go to the gods of Egypt or the gods of Assyria? Their wickedness and backsliding will punish them – when they understand how evil and bitter life is without God and without a sense of awe of God.

Colossians 1: 9 – 20

Paul tells of his prayers that we may have knowledge of God’s will in spiritual wisdom and understanding so that we lead lives worthy of God, bear fruit and be made strong through His power so that we can endure all things with patience and joyfully give thanks. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and put us in Christ, His Son’s kingdom. Paul explains the oneness of God and Christ and this section is the beginning of our creed, the acknowledgement of God as creator of all things visible and invisible and God’s reconciliation with us through the cross.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Grevillea
The Abbey Jamberoo Benedictine Community
New 2012 L Osburn

Holy Lord fountain of all life, we thank you and praise you for your love and grace making yourself the sacrifice for our separation from you. Help us grow in spiritual wisdom and understanding so that we can continue to endure all things and joyfully give thanks to you. Help us to show in the way we interact in the world that true reconciliation for this world is not only possible but has already been achieved through the cross and through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.