13 April 2016

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Wednesday 13 April 2016

Morning Prayer

Psalms 101; 102: 1-11

The first psalm is a statement of commitment to justice and to work hard to live a righteous life. The portion of the second psalm is a lament. The psalmist is unwell and in great pain unable to eat or sleep and tormented by others who suggest God has deserted him.

Leviticus 24

The instructions are given to keep a lamp burning in the sanctuary at night and the amount of bread that is to be given for the priests. Then there is a story about a man whose mother is Israeli and father Egyptian who in a fight blasphemes. He is processed by being brought to Moses, held in custody, the judgement is made in prayerful reflection. The punishment is that he is taken outside the camp, every person puts their hand on his head. The whole community is involved. Then he is stoned. Blasphemy is a capital offense and the rules apply to all. Then Moses sets the rule about the system of justice. If you kill you will be killed, if you take you must restore, if you harm you will be equally harmed. The rule is for all.

John 9: 24 – 41

Again the Pharisees bring the man who was blind before them. They question him again and he asks do they want to hear his testimony again so that they can become disciples? They say, no, they are disciples of Moses. The blind man then says: you do not know where this man comes from, and we know God doesn’t listen to sinners but he will listen to someone who worships and obeys God. Never has anyone’s blindness been cured. If this man, who gave the blind man sight, is not from God he would not have been able to do what he did. 

The Pharisees exclude the man from the synagogue. Jesus hears, and finds the man, who believes. Jesus then says that he came to help those who cannot see, see and those who think they can see, realise they are blind. The Pharisees challenge Jesus saying that they cannot be blind. Jesus says if they are blind they would be innocent (they wouldn’t know what they were doing) but since they presume to know, and understand what they are doing, clearly they are sinning.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Climbing the "iceberg"
Busselton WA  L Osburn

Patient and compassionate God, we know from Moses, and from Christ’s interactions with the blind man and the Pharisees, that it is too easy for us to assume more knowledge and understanding than we have and assume roles and powers that are not ours. Help us be humble. Help us understand our limits and your grace, power, might, faithfulness and presence so that we pass on your compassion and demonstrate our love and respect for you in our lives through Christ and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

Wednesday 13 April 2016

Evening Prayer

Psalm 102: 12-28

This second portion of the lament turns into a hymn of prayer and praise to God. God will look after us; hears our prayers and is eternal.

Exodus 20: 18 – 21: 6

Moses reassures the people that God’s presence is to make it clear that he is real, and that they are not to sin. It is to make clear that worshipping other Gods or idols is not acceptable.

The next section gives rules for the limits of service of a slave and members of the slave’s family. After seven years a slave must be offered freedom.

1 Corinthians 1: 20 – 31

Paul continues that wisdom and capacity for debate are useless when considering Christ.  What God has done looks foolish but is wise. It looks weak but is supreme strength.

Christ is the source of our lives. Christ is God’s wisdom, righteous, sanctification and redemption. We can only boast in Christ.

Collect for Evening Prayer

Great Australian Bight (looking to the east)
SA  L Osburn

Holy God thank you for bringing us to the end of this day. Be with us now and help us to see your hand of wisdom, your love and your presence as we reflect on today. Help us wonder at your greatness so that we feel that great warmth from knowing that you are the one, we can boast in, only you, through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord and the power of your Holy Spirit. Amen.

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