13 January 2016
Collects
Prayers
developed from the daily readings
Wednesday 13
January 2016
Morning
Prayer
Psalm 35: 1 – 17
This section of the psalm
asks for God to contend with personal enemies: those who fight, who devise
evil, who ensnare, who are malicious witnesses, who repay good for evil and,
who mock. The psalmist asks, “say to my soul ‘I am your salvation’ ” (v.3).
Jeremiah
2: 20 – 34 (35 – 37)
This
section is an indictment of the people who are busy pursuing other gods and
worshipping idols. They have forgotten who they are, what God has done and are
acting like female donkeys on heat. When things go wrong they come to God
expecting to be saved. They are sinning. They will be as disappointed with
Egyptian gods as they were with Assyrian gods.
John 6: 60 – 71
On hearing the teaching
about Jesus being the bread of life and having to eat his flesh and drink his
blood many disciples said the teaching was too hard and unacceptable. Jesus
addresses their sense of offence and talks about life being of the Spirit and
the flesh being meaningless. Jesus’ words are spirit. Jesus’ words are life.
This is why Jesus said no one can come to Jesus unless the father enables them.
Some disciples leave Jesus over this. Jesus asks the 12 disciples whether they
want to leave too. Peter answers, to whom would they go? Jesus has the words of
eternal life and they know that Jesus is the Holy One of God.
Jesus agrees that he has
chosen the 12 but adds that one will oppose and betray him.
Collect for
Morning Prayer
Lemon scented magnolia Harrietville Vic L Osburn |
Holy Lord
you are our salvation. You are the spirit of life within us and the reality of
Jesus, fully human on earth with us. By your grace bring us closer to Christ
every day and keep us blind and deaf to human constructed idols and aspirations
so that our souls are focused on you, our saviour, redeemer and friend through Jesus
Christ your Son our Lord. Amen.
Wednesday 13
January 2016
Evening
Prayer
Psalms 35: 18 – 29 and 36
The end of the first psalm
continues the plea for God to contend with personal enemies and vows to praise
God when the psalmist is vindicated.
The second psalm describes
the character of those who are wicked. It then describes the character of God
“For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light”(v.9). The
psalm ends in a plea for steadfast love and salvation.
Genesis
2: 4 – 25
Before plants there was no
rain just streams of water feeding the earth. It was from the dust of the earth
that humans were formed. The breath of life was breathed into the first person.
The first human was in a fertile place fed by four rivers with trees and plants
for food. And in the centre of this garden was a tree of life and knowledge of
good and evil.
The first human was to care
for the garden (to till it and keep it), eat anything except from the tree of
life. The man needed a helper and the animals were brought to him for names.
None was a suitable helper. Woman was formed out of the same rib-stock as the
man – same flesh and bone.
Colossians 1: 21 – 29
Paul says that those of us who were estranged from God
and doing evil are now reconciled, restored and blameless before God through
the crucifixion. This will continue provided we fully and steadfastly continue
in our faith. That is what Paul’s mission and suffering were for: to ensure we,
from all nations are strong and mature in the faith. In particular he wants us
to know the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in us.
Collect for
Evening Prayer
By the river in the evening Ovens River Harrietville Vic L Osburn |
Holy God fountain of life and light, you made us to
work in your world to labour and to protect it and to help each other to do so.
Banish all things that get in the way of us being close to you. Bring us to the
experience of reconciliation, restoration and blamelessness through
contemplating the crucifixion and, enable us to grow strong and mature in the
faith to your glory through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, and the power of
your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.
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