22 April 2015

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Wednesday 22 April 2015

Morning Prayer

Psalms 118: 1 – 18

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures forever! The remainder of the psalm tells of God’s assistance and reminds us to put our trust not in people or rulers, but God alone.

Exodus 20: 18 – 21: 6

Moses reassures the people that God’s presence is to make it clear that he is real, and that they are not to sin. It is to make clear that worshipping other Gods or idols is not acceptable.

The next section gives rules for the limits of service of a person who owes money and members of that person’s family. After seven years this person in slavery must be offered freedom.

John 9: 24 – 41

Again the Pharisees bring the man who was blind before them. They question him again and he asks do they want to hear his testimony again so that they can become disciples? They say, no, they are disciples of Moses. The blind man then says: you do not know where this man comes from, and we know God doesn’t listen to sinners but he will listen to someone who worships and obeys God. Never has anyone’s blindness been cured. If this man is not from God he would not have been able to do what he did. 

The Pharisees exclude the man from the synagogue. Jesus hears, and finds the man, who believes. Jesus then says that he came to help those who cannot see, see and those who think they can see, realise they are blind. The Pharisees challenge Jesus saying that they cannot be blind. Jesus says if they were blind they would be innocent (they wouldn’t know what they were doing) but since they presume to know, and understand what they are doing, clearly they are sinning.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Sunrise in the rain
Mulwala NSW 2015 E Byford

Compassionate God, you seek us out, assist us and love us eternally. Help us learn how to be compassionate. Show us how to free people from servicing debts to us in a reasonable way. Help us see that those who don’t know your laws and love are innocent of their sins and that we, who know you, are the ones who need repentance, forgiveness and mercy so that we may be obedient to your commandments and do your will through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Wednesday 22 April 2015

Evening Prayer

Psalms 118: 19 – 29 and 120

The psalm section brims with sweet praise to God. God takes the weak and rejected and makes them the cornerstone. “This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. This is the day that the Lord has made: let us rejoice and be glad in it” (vv. 23-24).

The second psalm is a cry of distress from a person in exile far from Israel surrounded by warrior people, “I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war” (v.7).

Joshua 8: 10 – 23 (24 – 28) 29 – 35

In the second battle of Ai, Joshua with part of his army, approach from the north with a ravine between them and the city. He sets another force hidden to the west behind the city. In the morning the battle begins. Joshua’s troops feign defeat and retreat. The men of Ai give chase. At God’s command, Joshua signals for the western force to attack. They take and burn the city. When the men of Ai see the smoke they turn. Joshua’s troops turn too. The men of Ai are now outside their city and surrounded. The King of Ai is taken alive to Joshua.

1 Corinthians 1: 20 – 31

Paul continues that wisdom and capacity for debate are useless when considering Christ.  What God has done looks foolish but is wise. It looks weak but is supreme strength.

Christ is the source of our lives. Christ is God’s wisdom, righteous, sanctification and redemption. We can only boast in Christ.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Desert Flowers
The Pinnacles Broken Hill NSW
2015 L Osburn

O God, you are our companion in the struggles and trials of daily living and witness. Help us to remember yours is the wisdom and strength and that the battle has already been won so that we, who might appear stupid and weak to others, can give thanks. Help us to know deeply that we are sanctified and redeemed so that we may be grateful for this day and every day through Christ, the source of our life. Amen.

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