6 February 2015

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Friday 6 February 2015

Morning Prayer

Psalm 86

The psalmist approaches God in humility and reverent recognition asking for assistance. Praise and honour are awarded to God and the psalmist asks to walk in truth and to have a heart for God alone. Thanks are given to God for steadfast love.

Genesis 22: 1 – 19 (20 – 24)

God tests Abraham and instructs him to sacrifice Isaac his only son in Moriah on a mountain. Abraham goes with Isaac and others. He leaves the others behind as they near the mountain. Isaac carries the wood. Isaac asks about the lamb for the offering and Abraham replies that God will provide. Abraham builds an altar, binds and places Isaac on it on top of the wood. As he raises the knife Abraham hears the Lord calling from heaven for him to not harm the boy. Abraham has shown his first loyalty is to God. Abraham looks up and sees a ram caught in thickets. He frees Isaac catches the ram and sacrifices it. God promises that indeed Abraham’s offspring will be as numerous as starts in the sky. Abraham returns to Beersheba. Meanwhile, Abraham’s brother Nahor has had children and grandchildren.

Luke 3: 15 – 22

The people are excited by John and wonder whether he is the Messiah. John says that he baptises with water and the one who is to come will baptise with the Holy Spirit. John is not worthy. The one to come will gather the wheat and separate out the chaff. Thus John proclaims the good news. Herod the ruler, rebuked by John for his behaviour – especially with his own brother’s wife, will later have John imprisoned.

Jesus comes to be baptised and when he is praying afterwards the heavens open and the Holy Spirit descends on him like a dove. A voice says “You are my Son the Beloved; with you I am well pleased” (v.22).

Collect for Morning Prayer

In the church
The Abbey Jamberoo NSW 2010
L Osburn

Holy Lord who loves us and has had a son sacrificed for us all, be with us this and every day and help us to grow in maturity of faith so that we have hearts for you alone and live and work in your world for your praise and glory and honour through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord. Amen.

Friday 6 February 2015

Evening Prayer

Psalm 88

This is a prayer of a faithful person who has been seriously ill since childhood and now believes they are close to death. The prayer asks God to listen. The psalmist is bold with God. “Is your steadfast love declared in the grave…?” (v.11). The only sense of hope in this psalm is in God’s response.

Jeremiah 14: 17 – 15: 9

Jeremiah talks with God who says to tell the people I am crying over the deaths and destruction. Jeremiah appeals to God saying no idol can bring peace or restore or bring the rain. The people’s only hope is God. God replies that even if Moses and Samuel stood before him and appealed on behalf of these people, God would still say no. The decision has been made. The last straw was King Manasseh the son of Hezekiah of Judah and his actions in Jerusalem.

Who will have pity on Jerusalem? The people are going backward and rejecting the Lord. God has destroyed and bereaved the people.

Philippians 2: 12 – 18  

The Philippians with the Holy Spirit are to work out their own salvation with fear and trembling knowing that God enables both their will and ability to work for God. They are to work without murmuring or arguing and hold fast to the word of life. Even if Paul dies it will be for the sacrifice and faith of the Philippians and Paul will rejoice as he hopes they will rejoice with him.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Seat for contemplation
The Abbey Jamberoo NSW 2010
L Osburn

Great and almighty God, it is your will and your power that rules. Our only hope is in you and you give us grace to seek you, walk in your path and live our lives in ways that pour out more of your love and peace into this world. Help us to take a moment and reaffirm our trust in you, to sit in silence and peace in the security of your great majesty through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.