29 September 2015
Collects
Prayers
developed from the daily readings
Tuesday 29 September
2015
Morning
Prayer
Psalm
69: 1 – 16
This
psalmist is a lowly servant of the Lord and through zeal has done something
that causes him to be the butt of jokes and ridicule. The psalmist is fasting
and in sackcloth. He pleads for deliverance and praises God.
1 Kings 17
Elijah, the prophet appears
and tells King Ahab there will be no rain for three years because the God of
Israel (not Baal) controls the rain. He then goes east of the Jordan River on
God’s instruction where the ravens bring him food and he drinks from a flowing
wadi. When the water dries up he goes to Zarephath, part of Sidon, where God
says a widow has been commanded to feed and house him. He goes to the gate of
the city, finds a widow collecting sticks and asks her for water and then food.
She only has enough meal for one last cake. He asks her to make him a little
one and prophecies that her grain and oil stores will be supplied until the end
of the drought.
The widow’s son becomes ill
and ceases breathing. She complains to Elijah – what has he done to her that
all her sins have resulted in the death of her child. Elijah picks up the
child, takes him upstairs, cries out to God then stretches himself on the child
three times. The boy revives. The woman is now convinced that Elijah is a man
of God.
Matthew
9: 14 – 26
Disciples
of John the Baptist ask Jesus why they and the Pharisees fast but Jesus’s
disciples do not. Jesus talks about respecting the new ways and the old ways
and not forcing them together. He also says that there will be a time when the
disciples fast – at the moment they are still with the bridegroom.
A
leader in the synagogue approaches for his daughter has died and asks Jesus to
lay hands on her so she may live. Jesus goes and on the way a woman touches the
fringe of his coat so she may be healed. Jesus stops, recognises the touch,
acknowledge the woman and her faith and heals her. He then tells the mourners
to depart and enters the synagogue leader’s home, takes the girl by the hand
and she gets up. There is rejoicing everywhere. Jesus recognises and heals women and girl children.
Collect for
Morning Prayer
Jesus before Pilate New Norcia Benedictine Community WA L Osburn |
Gracious and loving God you provide food, safety, health and new
life even to those who are considered the least in our communities. We thank
you for your prophets and healers of every age who take the risks to challenge
us, confront us, and brings us back from destruction and death. We thank you especially
for your Son Jesus who showed us in concrete ways your overwhelming love for us
all. Help us today to reach out to you and to call out with our whole hearts to
you so that we too may spread your love, your healing and new life to those we
meet through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, and the power
of your Holy Spirit. Amen.
Tuesday 29 September
2015
Evening
Prayer
Psalm
69: 17 – 23 (24 – 30) 31 – 38
The
psalmist praises the Lord and is suffering from insults and dishonour. When he
goes for counsel and support the response is bitter, and heart-breaking – no
real compassion. The psalmist is very angry, he wants God’s wrath to destroy
and punish, but he leaves that anger with and for God. The psalmist praises
God, who unlike a God in the form of a bull, will listen. The psalmist ends in
praise and a plea to God to come quickly.
Job 27
Job now makes two solemn
oaths to God again claiming his innocence, integrity and righteousness saying,
“my heart does not reproach me for any of my days” (v. 6).
He wishes God’s response to
the wicked to be done to his enemy. The enemy remains un-named. He says if God
turns from the godless, they will have no hope. They might have children but
they will be lost in wars, pestilence and famine. They might have wealth but
someone else will ultimately get it. Change will come like a wild wind and they
will flee at its hissing and power.
Colossians 1: 9 – 20
Paul tells of his prayers that we may have knowledge
of God’s will in spiritual wisdom and understanding so that we lead lives
worthy of God, bear fruit and be made strong through His power so that we can
endure all things with patience and joyfully give thanks. He has rescued us
from the power of darkness and put us in Christ, His Son’s kingdom. Paul
explains the oneness of God and Christ and this section is the beginning of our
creed, the acknowledgement of God as creator of all things visible and
invisible and God’s reconciliation with us through the cross.
Collect for
Evening Prayer
For everyone Harrietville Vic. L Osburn |
Holy Lord creator of all things seen and unseen you
are always there for all of us whether we acknowledge you or not. You love us
and provide for us. When we turn to you through Christ we becomes aware of your
love for everyone and humbled. We grow in patience and love, freed from
darkness and seek reconciliation with you for all people through Jesus Christ
your Son our Lord, and the power of your Holy Spirit in our hearts. For this we
thank you Lord. Amen.
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