Sunday 29 March 2015

30 March 2015

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Monday 30 March 2015
Morning Prayer


Psalm 21

This is a song of thanksgiving for the victory and establishment of the king. The psalm then talks of how tough God will be on his own enemies. The psalm ends singing praise to God.

Lamentations 1: 1 – 12

Jerusalem is compared to a young woman grieving like a widow, empty, friendless, loveless and children taken.  She remembers her days of glory and compares that to the current state – this causes her to groan. She paid no attention to the future and the things she did wrong were inside her skin. She has become worthless. “Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by?” (v.12).

John 14

At the Last Supper, Judas has left. Jesus consoles the disciples: their hearts are not to be troubled; he will prepare a place for them; he will come again and take them to Himself so that where Jesus is the disciples are also. They too will know the way.

Thomas asks since they do not know where Jesus is going, how can they know the way? Jesus says that he is the way, the truth and the life. Only through Jesus do we see the Father and if we know Jesus, we know the Father.

Philip asks Jesus to show the disciples the Father. Jesus responds, if we have seen him we have seen the Father; if we have heard his words we have heard the Father’s words; if we have seen his deeds we have seen the Father’s deeds. The Father and Jesus are one.

He challenges them that even if they do not believe He and the Father are one to believe the deeds – the Father’s actions.

Jesus says those who believe will do greater things because he is going to the Father. However, if we ask in Jesus’s name he will do what we ask so that God can be glorified through him.

If we love Christ we will receive the Advocate, the spirit of truth. Jesus tells the disciples that he is leaving and going to the Father and that he is alive and in the disciples and they in him. God will love those who keep Jesus’s commandments and Jesus will be revealed to them. God with Christ will make their home in them.

The Advocate, the Holy Spirit will teach us and remind us what Jesus said. Jesus gives his peace and reassures the disciples “Do not let your hearts be troubled” (v. 27). If the disciples loved Jesus they would rejoice that he is going to the Father.


Collect for Morning Prayer

Early Morning Kookaburra
Harrietville Vic 2015 L Osburn
Holy Lord, you love us so much you gave yourself and sent us your Holy Spirit that we may be taught, reminded and guided on your way. Give us your peace in all our activities today so that our hearts are not troubled, we speak your words of truth, we do your deeds of love and we walk your way in the power of Your Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord. Amen.



Monday 30 March 2015
Evening Prayer

Psalm 25

In this psalm, the psalmist commits his life and actions to God. He asks for forgiveness, guidance, education and safety from distress and enemies. He requests integrity and uprightness while he waits.

Lamentations 2: 8 – 19

This lament describes in full horror the destruction of Jerusalem. The walls are down and the city in ruin, leaders are among the crowds, rudderless. Prophets are found false, older women are mourning and immobile. Children are fainting from starvation and young women are dead on the ground. All demolished without pity.

Galatians 6: 11– 18

Paul, himself writes the last section of this letter – he isn’t a trained scribe so his letters are larger. The outward bodily signs of belief (circumcision, marks of persecution for faith) are not what we are to boast about or worry about. What we boast about is Christ crucified for us and as a consequence, our separation from the call of the world. This new creation is everything. Paul blesses the readers.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Chestnuts
Freeburgh Vic 2015 L Osburn
Holy Lord you have already done the outward show, the concrete signs through the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple and the crucifixion of your Son. We are humbled and know that no outward show of our piety can ever compare. Break open the shell of our hearts. Bring us to experience lives of integrity and attachment to you so that we become your new creation of forgiveness and love through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.




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