2 March 2015

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Monday 2 March 2015

Morning Prayer

Psalms 5 and 6

This first psalm asks for God to hear the prayers of the victim of harmful lies. God has no time for wickedness. The psalmist will go to the temple knowing that he too is not yet righteous and needs help to stay on the path. The psalmist takes the problem to God and does not retaliate. Instead he asks for all who take refuge in the Lord to experience joy and protection and exult and bless the Lord.

Debilitating and terrifying illness has struck the psalmist. It is shaking the psalmist’s faith. God is asked to lovingly respond. The psalmist stands against evil and proclaims the Lord’s swift response.

Genesis 43: 1 – 15

In Canaan the grain is about to run out and Jacob still questions why the Egyptian knows so much about them to demand the other brother. Judah promises to protect Benjamin. Jacob takes the risk and says, “As for me, if I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved” (v.14). They begin their journey back to Egypt with the money that had been put in their sacks, double the asking price for grain, fruits of the land: honey nuts and resin.

Luke 12: 49 – 59

Jesus talks about the baptism he is about to endure. He talks to about the crisis his life brings – in the sense of making a choice that will change our lives: for many a passionate choice. Families will divide.

We can all read that the weather is about to change and act appropriately, but we are blind to the urgent need to make ultimate choices and take the risk and choose God as the central concern of our lives.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Kangaroo seeking refuge
Silverton NSW 2015 L Osburn

Loving and compassionate Lord you know what it is like to suffer and be confronted with a crisis. Help us today to stand against evil by proclaiming your love, to accept difficulty and act generously, to hand difficulties to you, take refuge in you and praise you so that we are open to you and actively, deliberately choose you and your path through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord. Amen.

Monday 2 March 2015

Evening Prayer

Psalms 7 and 8

In the first psalm, someone who was an ally has been harmed and the blame is being focused on the psalmist. The psalmist seeks God’s protection, calls on God to search him out and judge. The psalmist is also aware that the snares the wicked set can turn against them. The psalmist is confident in a right relationship with God and is willing to repent. The psalmist promises to praise God when rescued.

God’s majesty is praised. Every human sound is praise to God. And the psalmist marvels at that. How is it that humans have such a special place when we consider the expanse of the heavens? The psalm ends in awe, wonder and praise.

Jeremiah 29: 1 – 19 (20 – 23)

Jeremiah sends a letter to the exiles in Babylon. He proclaims that God said to him to tell them to make solid and normal lives, get married, have children, build their future and care for the city and its people. He says not to listen to anyone in Babylon who claims to be a prophet because they are false. It will be 70 years before anyone returns. Those who pray to God in Babylon will be heard. Meanwhile the people left behind in Judah will suffer pestilence, violence and famine because they did not heed God.

Hebrews 7: 11 – 25

Jesus is the eternal priest available to save those who approach God through him (v.25). He has been appointed forever and represents a new and better covenant with God.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Emu
Silverton NSW 2015 L Osburn

God of creation and God of love, when we think of your creation we are awestruck. When we think of how you created humans we can only praise you. Open all our hearts so that wherever we are we may seek you, be in right relationship with you and have lives that support our families, communities and countries to your praise and glory through Jesus Christ our great high priest Lord and saviour. Amen.

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