3 June 2016
Collects
Prayers developed from the daily readings
Friday 3 June 2016
Morning Prayer
Psalm
78: 16 – 38
This
portion of the psalm recounts the complaints against God when the Israelites
are in the desert with Moses. Water is produced from rocks, food falls from
heaven, both bread and birds. They have little faith and yet when they repent,
God forgives.
Ezekiel
30: 1 – 19
Ezekiel
prophesies the total destruction of Egypt and all her allies by Nebuchadrezzar.
Acts 7:
44 – 53
Stephen,
the first deacon, falsely accused and before the council, continues his
rendering of the story of the people of God. He tells of how the tent of
testimony travelled with the people through the wilderness, came to the new
land with Joshua and was placed in the temple Solomon built. Yet God does not
live in places made by humans. Stephen goes on to call the council a
“stiff-necked people”
Collect for Morning Prayer
Two female crimson rosellas Harrietville Vic L Osburn |
Friday 3 June 2016
Evening Prayer
Psalm
78: 39 – 70
The
psalmist shows how short the memories of humans are and how fickle. The Israelites in the desert did not
remember or take into account the miracles of God that enabled their freedom.
They had little faith. God held on and made decisions about the future of the
people and who would lead them, for example choosing the line of Judah rather
than the line of Joseph: choosing David and Mt Zion. Whether humans are
faithful or not, God still guides them.
Deuteronomy
17: 14 – 20 and 18: 9 – 22
When the people go to the new land they may set up a king but God will
choose the person from among the people and never from another country. The
king needs to keep God as the primary concern not wealth or horses or wives.
When the people arrive in the new land they are not to adopt customs
from the other people who live there. They are not to consult spirits, use
soothsayers, use divination or be a sorcerer. As Moses asked that people not
directly encounter God because it is too overpowering there is an agreement
that prophets be chosen. The people are
to abide by the prophets and a true prophet who speaks in the name of the Lord
will be known since his prophecies will prove true. False prophets – people who
presume to speak in God’s name will die.
2
Corinthians 6: 1 – 13
Paul
urges people to accept the grace of God since now is the time when that grace
will be revealed. There is no obstacle for anyone and indeed Paul and others
have been through great hardship to get rid of obstacles. They have been
treated as imposters and dying and sorrowful but yet here they are true, alive
and joyful. Now is the time to open your hearts also.
Collect for Evening Prayer
Crimson Rosella Harrietville Vic L Osburn |
God of grace, you guide us even through
our times of faithlessness and fickleness. When we turn our focus on you we
turn to the truth, to life and to joy. Give us humility tonight to recognise
our ongoing transition and growth through the challenges that come from within
ourselves, the non-believing community and our sense of the impossibility of
existing in your overwhelming presence. Remind us of those who have gone before
and who suffered hardships to make it possible to get your good news to us s
that we just accept your grace, accept your love and leave our concerns to you
through the power of your Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Please leave a comment or
feedback.
No comments:
Post a Comment