21 December 2015

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Monday 21 December 2015 

Morning Prayer

Psalms 121, 122 and 123

In these three psalms the themes are the eternal faithfulness of God and how God cares for us; the joy and gladness we experience as we enter the house of the Lord with a prayer for safety and peace in Jerusalem, and finally, a prayer for deliverance from those who ridicule and oppress us.

Isaiah 24: 1 – 20  

The world will be laid waste and desolate. The inhabitants will scatter; no one will escape. The earth with be twisted, dried up and polluted. Nothing can grow. There is no joy, no wine, no music or dancing. All houses are closed and desolation is everywhere.

A scattered remnant of the people praises God. But Isaiah cries, “Woe is me” and tells how treacherous people are.

There is inescapable terror. The earth is inescapably broken, shaken, reeling and falling never to get up again.

Mark 12: 28 – 40

A scribe asks Jesus which is the greatest commandment. He answers, to love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and the second is to love your neighbour as yourself. The scribe tells Jesus that he is right and that these two are more important than all the laws of burnt offerings and sacrifice. Jesus responds that the scribe is not far from the kingdom of God.

Jesus asks those he is teaching in the temple, how can we say that the Christ is the Son of David when David says “The Lord said to my Lord: sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet” (v. 36 and Psalm 110: 1). So, if David calls the Christ “Lord”, how can the Christ be David’s son?

He encourages the crowds to question and to watch the scribes and see their hypocrisy. He shows them how to watch and think.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Grass in the morning
Armadale WA  L Osburn

Holy and loving God you care for us, nurture us and deliver us from ourselves and from moving into chaos. Help us to love you and love one another and not to see the results of human transgressions as cause for celebration of the coming of the end so that we like Isaiah understand our role and our contribution in the preservation of this home you have given us, as Jesus instructs, to watch and question and in love to work for your kingdom through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Monday 21 December 2015

Evening Prayer

Psalm 119: 129 – 152

The psalmist declares a passion for the scripture and the commandments.  There is a request to learn and know them better. There too is recognition that others do not share this zeal and that leads to persecution. There is a plea to be saved from harm.

Isaiah 51: 11 – 23

Isaiah Says the ransomed of the Lord will return. He calls to the people to not be afraid of human oppressors – the oppressed shall be released. God has put words into Isaiah’s mouth. God has hidden the people in the shadow of the same hand that stretched out the heavens. “You are my people”.

Rouse yourselves and stand up! God’s wrath is no longer being served to God’s people but to the people’s oppressors and tormentors.

Revelation 21: 9 – 21

One of the seven angels who held one of the bowls of the plagues invites John to come and see the bride of the Lamb. He sees a great city coming down from heaven – a crystal city. It has a wall with 12 gates one for each of the tribes of Israel and the wall has 12 foundations one of each apostle. The angel measures the city with a rod of gold. The city is bejewelled.

There is no temple in the city for its temple is God and the Lamb. And the temple needs no sun or moon for the glory of God is light.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Brining in the catch
Sculpture Fremantle Harbour
WA L Osburn

God of wonders, knowledge and freedom we give you thanks and praise for your holy word and for the promise we have in you. Help us to accept and acknowledge that we are your people. Help us stand up in faith and hope and love so that our hearts can inhabit your holy city where you are the centre of our worship and praise and where you lead us by your eternal light through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.

Please leave a comment or feedback.