24 September 2015

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Thursday 24 September 2015 

Morning Prayer

Psalms 56 and 57

The first psalm speaks of trust in God who is our salvation and who is with us when we fear the actions of other people. It ends in praise and commitment to faith.

The second psalm again is an appeal for aid against enemies who are compared to lions. The psalm shifts to praise. The psalmist wakes each morning to sing God’s praise, to uplift the soul and to ask God to be exalted in the world: to let God’s glory shine.

1 Kings 14: 19 – 15: 8

Jeroboam’s reign in Israel continues for 22 years full of wars and struggles. Rehoboam’s reign in Judah lasts seventeen years during which time the king of Egypt invades and takes all the wealth of Judah – everything Solomon had and stored. There is war between Jeroboam and Rehoboam. Judah also is unfaithful to God and sets up altars on hills and poles to worship other deities.

Rehoboam’s son Abijam succeeds Rehoboam, fights Jeroboam too, is equally unfaithful to God and is succeeded by his son Asa.

Matthew 7: 24 – 8: 4

Jesus says that when we hear his words and build our lives on them we have a firm foundation, like a house founded on the bedrock – immovable and unshaken. If we hear Jesus’s words and ignore them we have build out lives on flimsy and unsustainable foundations.

Jesus didn’t just teach: he had an unmistakable authority. 

A leper approaches him and says “Lord, if you choose you can make me clean”. Jesus replies, “I do choose. Be made clean.” The man is restored and told to present himself and offer the appropriate sacrifices in line with Mosaic Law.

Collect for Morning Prayer

The bedrock of Australia
The Great Australian Bight SA L Osburn

Holy and wonderful God, when we trust you nothing is wrong. Even though our world is full or war, division and unfaithfulness making our lives fragile you give us choice and hope. We can go on worshipping other gods and warring or we can choose to recognise Jesus’ authority, healing and instruction to us to keep the commandments. Renew us today. Lift up our souls. Regenerate us so that we sing your praise and recommit to faith and strengthen our foundation in you; unshakable through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Thursday 24 September 2015

Evening Prayer

Psalms 60 and 61

The disaster has struck. The people of the country are suffering. God has set up a banner for the faithful to rally behind. This psalm is an appeal to God to be with us in the challenge ahead. The psalm ends with “With God we shall do valiantly” (v.12).

The second psalm is a prayer for protection. God is describes as a rock, a shelter, a hiding place and a great bird under whose wings we are protected.

Job 22: 23 – 23: 17

Eliphaz continues encouraging Job to return to the Almighty and put aside all other valuables – treat them like river pebbles. Make God the most precious thing in your life and God will deliver you.

Job replies, how tough things are for him and that he would happily go where God is, put his case and hear what God would answer. But Job cannot find God. Wherever Job looks God is not there. God knows all Job’s steps and actions. God knows he has kept and treasured the commandments yet God is distant. Job is terrified. His heart is faint. Job just wants to vanish into a dark cloud.

Ephesians 5: 21 – 33

Paul counsels love and respect for each other including husbands and wives a deep equality and respect, nourishing and tenderly caring for each other. Just as Christ tenderly loved us and laid down his life for us so we should love each other.

Collect for Evening Prayer

New Norcia Benedictine Community
WA L Osburn

Holy compassionate and loving God, through your great and tender care Jesus died for us to deliver us and make our path to you open. When things go dreadfully wrong, when there is disaster and suffering and we can’t find you, remind us that you are already here in the dark, in the pain, with the blood and with the wounds committed to us and our freedom so that we in this space, can reach out to love and care for each other through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, and the power of your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.

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