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 |
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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