20 February 2015
Collects
Prayers
developed from the daily readings
Friday 20
February 2015
Morning
Prayer
Psalms 114 and 115
First, the psalmist recalls the exodus and crossing of
the sea and the Jordan: that the natural world moved and changed to suit God’s
purpose. The second psalm starts praising God for faithful and constant
expression of love. The psalmist ridicules the idol-makers who like their idols
may have the physical senses (eyes, ears, noses…) but make no use of them. God
is contrasted as a sensing and active presence worthy to be trusted. The
psalmist blesses the hearer of the psalm.
Genesis 37: 25 – 38: 11
Some of Joseph’s brothers plot to sell him to a
caravan of traders. Reuben however, returned to the pit to retrieve Joseph he was
already gone. The brothers covered Joseph’s coat in goat blood and returned to
their father claiming the young man was dead – in reality he was alive in
Egypt. Jacob grieves.
The next section deals with Judah and the circumstance
surrounding the death of his two eldest sons.
Luke 10: 38 – 11: 4
Jesus visits the house of Martha and Mary. Martha
labours and Mary listens. Jesus makes Martha aware of her worries and
distractions and suggests listening is a better option. Jesus is asked and
teaches the disciples the Lord’s Prayer.
Collect for
Morning Prayer
Kookaburra in the Maple Harrietville Vic 2015 L Osburn |
God of concrete reality, you are the only God who cares for us,
cares for relationships, teaches us, asks us to listen and turns bad
circumstances into a better world. Help us listen to you today, to hear your
voice in prayer and moments of silence so that our lives may be calm and show
that you are the better part through Jesus
Christ Your Son our Lord. Amen.
Friday 20 February
2015
Evening
Prayer
Psalms 116 and 117
The first psalm gives thanks to God for healing. Even
when he is profoundly depressed the psalmist trusts in God. The second psalm is
a global call to praise God.
Jeremiah 23: 23 – 40
Jeremiah reveals God’s knowledge of all things and
displeasure in prophets who: tell of their dreams and use their own interpretations
and claim their dreams are from God or who take other’s prophesies and dress
them as their own using a phrase of the day, in this case “the burden of the
Lord”.
Hebrews 1: 13 – 2: 9
The writer argues the case for accepting Jesus as the
bringer of our salvation. We know Jesus was human and his words, his wonders
and miracles were to guide us to salvation. This is the task of the angels. So
we had better pay attention and not pass up this chance for salvation. And as
ancient scripture asks – who is man that God cares for us? Christ came, was
made less than an angel and now sits at the right hand side of God and because
of his suffering and death salvation is made available to all.
Collect for
Evening Prayer
Sun shower in the desert Combat NSW 2015 L Osburn |
Oh God of salvation, you alone are trustworthy, your word
alone is to be believed. In the still of this evening wash us and refresh us
with your word, Christ our Lord so that we paying close attention may hear and
transform our lives to your glory and honour and majesty through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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