25 November 2015
Collects
Prayers developed from the daily readings
Wednesday
25 November 2015
Morning
Prayer
Psalms
62 and 63
For God
my soul waits in silence: my salvation and my hope come from God. All people
and things and powers are temporary. God is our rock and fortress and we shall
not be shaken. Steadfast love belongs to God.
As a
drought-ravaged land seeks water so our souls seek God. God’s love is better
than life. God’s love is like a rich feast. Meditating on God causes our souls
to sing.
The
psalm ends with a plea for personal security.
2 Kings 23: 31 – 24: 9
There is now a quick
succession of kings. Jehoahaz aged 23 reigns for three months and does evil
things. Pharaoh Neco takes him prisoner and puts Eliakim, his brother on the
throne. Pharaoh renames him Jehoiakim. He reigns 11 years and exacts taxes on
the people to pay to Pharaoh. He does evil things. There are raids by the
Chaldeans, Arameans, Ammonites and Moabites. Jehoiachin, his son succeeds him
aged 18. He reigns for 3 months. He also does evil things.
Nebuchadnezzar conquers the
entire region including Egypt.
Mark 2:
1 – 17
Jesus
is in Capernaum and the people hear he is at home. They gather. Men bring a
friend who is paralysed. They go to the roof and dig a hole through it and
lower the man down to Jesus. Jesus applauds their faith and forgives the man’s
sins. Scribes sitting, watching ask in their hearts, not out loud, how Jesus
gets this authority and is he being blasphemous? Jesus perceives and responds
asking which is easier to forgive sins or to say “Stand up and take your mat
and walk” (v. 9)? So Jesus says this too. The man gets up and walks. Everyone
is amazed and glorifies God.
Walking
by the sea Jesus sees Levi a tax collector and says, “Follow me”. Levi (known
as Matthew) follows. Later at Levi’s home Jesus has dinner with disciples, tax
collectors and sinners. When the scribes see this they ask the disciples how is
this possible? Jesus on hearing this responds saying, he has come to save
sinners not the righteous.
Collect for
Morning Prayer
 | |
| Gum blossoms at dawn |
Wednesday
25 November 2015
Evening
Prayer
Psalms
64 and 67
The
first psalm is about those who do evil and think no one can see or hear them.
God knows. God sees. God will respond. Let the righteous rejoice and take
refuge in God.
The
second psalm is a blessing. “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make
his face shine upon us” (v 1). The blessing asks too that our lives be
testament to God’s glory. May the whole world sing praise and rejoice.
Ecclesiastes 9: 7 – 16
We are told to enjoy our
lives, dress in white, have oil on our heads, love our spouse and enjoy work –
none of this is available after death. And though wisdom is strength and the
wisdom of a poor man might save an entire city, no one is going to remember the
poor, wise man.
Revelation 12: 1 - 6
John sees the figure of a pregnant
woman clothed in the sun, the moon at her feet, stars crowning her head. She
cries and gives birth to a son. A seven-headed red dragon stands ready to
devour the baby boy at birth. But the baby is snatched away and is delivered to
God’s throne. The woman flees to the wilderness, to a place prepared by God
where she is nourished.
Collect for
Evening Prayer
 | ||||||
| Sunset on the road |
Loving and saving God you are willing to snatch us away
out of the range of evil and protect and nourish us. While we are alive you
want us to live in peace, freedom and joy. Keep us safe from all evil. Guide us
in your path and protect the child within each of us so that we may with
confidence fully enjoy your gift of life and the opportunity to worship you,
praise you and give you thanks all our days through
Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, and the power of your Holy Spirit in our
hearts. Amen.
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feedback.
All photos L Osburn
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