22 December 2015
Collects
Prayers
developed from the daily readings
Tuesday 22
December 2015
Morning
Prayer
Psalm
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.
Isaiah
24: 21– 25: 9
On the day the earth falls
God will imprison and punish the rebellious astral deities. The moon and the
sun too will not be worshipped but abashed and ashamed.
Isaiah praises God for
God’s faithful plans come to fulfilment from ages past. A city of aliens is
ruined and the poor and needy sheltered and given refuge. When the onslaught of
the ruthless is at its peak, like a storm, God stills it.
Isaiah says, “On this
mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food…”
(25: 6). The shroud over the people will be destroyed. Tears will be wiped away
and any disgrace taken away. For on this day the people will say this is their
God for whom they waited. They will be glad in their salvation.
Mark 12: 41 – 13: 13
Jesus
sits in the temple and watches people putting their offerings into the temple
treasury collection. A widow puts in her last coins. Jesus says she has put in
more than all the others for she gave everything she had.
A
disciple marvels at the size of the temple and Jesus says that there will be a
time when the temple is no more. The disciples ask when will that happen. Jesus
warns against false messiahs. First there will be wars, rumours of wars, civil
wars, famines and earthquakes: the beginning.
Christians
will be flogged in synagogues and handed over to rulers. But the gospel must be
preached to all nations. When we are arrested we are not to worry about what we
will say but let the Holy Spirit lead us. Family members will betray each other
and children will have their parents put to death. All people will hate us
because of Christ but we are to stand firm and those who do so will be saved.
Collect for
Morning Prayer
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| Tiny wild flower Rutherglen Vic L Osburn |
Tuesday 22 December
2015
Evening
Prayer
Psalms
118: 19 – 29 and 120
The
psalm section brims with sweet praise to God. The rejected one has become 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
one who comes in God’s name is blessed. God’s love endures forever.
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).
Isaiah
52: 1– 12
Jerusalem will be restored
only those who are clean and part of the chosen will enter. The people were
taken away without a price paid and will be returned freely. The leaders have
cried out against God so will know who God is and what God has done.
How beautiful are the feet
of the messenger who brings good news of salvation and who tells us that God
reigns. Break forth in singing for the Lord has redeemed Jerusalem. The entire
world will see the salvation of God. So leave where you are. Come back knowing
that God is protecting you from behind.
Revelation 21: 22 – 22: 5
John sees no temple in the city
for The Lord God and The Lamb are the temple. There is no sun or moon for God
is the light and the Lamb is the lamp. The gates are always open and nothing
impure can enter. The river of the water of life flows, crystal clear and on
each side of the river is the tree of life yielding 12 crops of fruit every
month. The leaves of the trees are for healing the nations. The servants of God
and the Lamb will see God’s face. There will be no more night. God will give
them light and they will reign forever.
Collect for
Evening Prayer
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| On him is the iniquity of us all The Abbey Benedictine Community Jamberoo NSW L Osburn |
Holy loving God you have given us Jesus your son to
bear the sins of all of us and to make intercession for us. We have gone astray
and you, through Christ, have brought us back. Build in us the capacity to
marvel at your love and the beauty of what you want for us so that we stop all
warrior behaviour in our hearts and open ourselves to the power and majesty of
your light, righteousness and healing through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
and the gift of your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.
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