11 October 2016
Collects
Prayers
developed from the daily readings
Tuesday 11
October 2016
Morning
Prayer
Psalms 95 and 96
Sing to God songs of praise for all things
God has done for us. Be joyful. Make a noise. Do not harden your heart like the
Israelites did when they were wandering in the wilderness.
Sing praise to the Lord! Ascribe to God
the glory of creation. Let everything, the heavens, the trees, everything sing
and praise God.
Zechariah 6
Zechariah’s next vision is of four war chariots drawn
by different coloured horses coming out through the mountainous, bronze gates
of heaven. They are to patrol the earth in 4 wind directions. Peace is reported
in the north – the place from which evil comes.
Zechariah is told to get silver and gold from a group
of exiles, have it fashioned into a crown and put on the head of one of the
high priests of the Davidic line called Joshua. It will be this one who builds
the real temple of the Lord, sits on the throne and rules yet is priest too.
The crown will be in the safe keeping of those who gave the metal and the gold
smith until the messiah comes. People from all nations will come to build the
temple. This will occur if the people diligently obey God.
Matthew 13: 18 – 30
Jesus explains the parable of the sower. Wheat grains
on the path are people who hear of the kingdom, do not understand and their
hearts are taken by the evil one. Wheat grains among the rocks are people who
respond, hear the message with joy, have no roots and whither when persecution
comes on account of the word. Wheat grains among the thorns are those who hear
and believe but are troubled by the cares of the world and urge for wealth –
their yield is poor. Wheat grains in good soil are those who hear, understand,
and produce an unimaginably big yield.
Jesus tells a second parable about a man who sows
seeds in a field but at night and enemy comes and sows weeds among the grain.
The field then is full of plants and weeds. The servants report to the owner
and ask should they take the weeds out? The owner says not to because of the
collateral damage on the crop. Wait until the harvest and separate the plants
then burn the weeds together and gather the good grain.
Collect for
Morning Prayer
Eggplant seedling Mulwala NSW L Osburn |
Holy and
merciful God you love us and want us to be with you in peace. To do this all of
us have a role in understanding and helping others to hear and understand your
word and your gifts of grace. Help us to support each other in faith and love
to ensure we are not turned aside by the cares of the world and not tempted to
weed but to keep encouraging the growth of your faithful people so that we all
are part of building your eternal kingdom through Jesus Christ who died for us.
Amen.
Tuesday 11 October 2016
Evening
Prayer
Psalms 97 and 98
The first psalm celebrates God using the
theme of God as sovereign. Let everyone who is faithful rejoice and praise God.
The psalm is a summons to all nations and
people to praise the Lord and rejoice in this name. God’s is the victory, God’s
is the strength and we are God’s people.
Daniel 2: 1 – 16
The King, Nebuchadnezzar has a dream that troubles him
and he wants it interpreted. So that he can trust the interpretation he demands
that anyone who could do so also has to tell him the dream. This is impossible.
The King orders the death of the wise, magicians, sorcerers etc. Daniel asks
the executioner for some time to reflect and promises to be able to interpret
the dream.
1 Peter
1: 10 – 17
The
ancient prophets revealed things, which applied to their lives, community and
future that are also consistent with the Gospel news. So the ancient prophets
were not seeking for themselves alone but for people now. So too are things now
revealed that the angels did not know.
Peter
calls us to be better, disciplined, full of hope in the grace of Christ and
seek to be holy. Recognise the Christ within and act from that “You shall be
holy, for I am holy” (v.16).
Collect for
Evening Prayer
Juvenile Crimson Rosella - start to get his grown-up feathers Harrietville Vic L Osburn |
Great and
gracious Lord you call us to recognise your Holy Spirit in our selves and to act
out of your power, your love and your grace. For us, of our own will and
abilities this is as impossible as the task set for Daniel. Guide us therefore
to read your word, to come to you, to keep your commandments and fix our hopes
on Christ so that we may be able to tap your holiness within, come closer to
you every moment of our lives and join in your great victory and strength through
Jesus Christ our Lord and your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.
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