21 October 2016
Collects
Prayers
developed from the daily readings
Friday 21
October 2016
Morning
Prayer
Psalms 121, 122 and 123
In these three psalms the themes are the eternal
faithfulness of God and how he cares for us; the joy and gladness we experience
as we enter the house of the Lord with a prayer for safety and peace in
Jerusalem, and finally, a prayer for deliverance from those who ridicule and
oppress us.
Ezra 10: 1 - 19
Ezra prays and confesses the Jews faithlessness by
marrying foreign women and thus opening up the gate to worship other gods. One
of the returned exiles suggests that the marriages with foreign women be
dissolved and the women and children sent away. Ezra withdraws and mourns the
faithlessness of the people. Meanwhile a proclamation is made for all to gather
in Jerusalem. The priest indicts the people and states the penalty. It will
take months to ensure the penalty is implemented. 4 people only opposed the
decision. Heads of each family are chosen to apply the penalty. Once the
penalties have been exacted the families are permitted to make a guilt offering
– a ram.
Matthew 17: 1 – 13
Jesus, Peter, James and John go up a high mountain.
Jesus is transfigured before them and is accompanied by Moses and Elijah who
talk with him. Peter offers to make booths so that they can stay. He is
interrupted by a bright cloud and a voice saying, “This is my Son, the beloved;
with him I am well pleased: listen to him!” (v.5). The disciples fall, overcome
with fear. Jesus comes, touches them telling them to get up and to not be
afraid. They are now alone. As they come down Jesus tells them to say nothing
of the vision until after he is raised from the dead. They query him about why
the scriptures say, “Elijah must comes first” (v.10). Jesus tells them that
John the Baptist was Elijah.
Collect for
Morning Prayer
Madonna and Christ child New Norcia Benedictine Community WA L Osburn |
God of steadfast love and compassion who gave your Son so
that we may be freed from sin, open our hearts to humility, open our ears to
hear you and your plan for harmony and peace so that we, even if we cannot
understand your ways, may put you first in our lives, stop our indictments of ourselves
and of each other and come to the right place with you, the place of trust, the
place of humility and the place of your love through Jesus Christ our Your Son the Beloved. Amen.
Friday 21 October 2016
Evening
Prayer
Psalm 119: 129 – 152
The psalmist declares a passion for the scripture and
the commandments. There is a request to
learn and know them better. There too is recognition that others do not share
this zeal and that leads to persecution. There is a plea to be saved from harm.
Daniel 5: 17 – 31
Daniel interprets the writing on the wall for King
Belshazzar, “MENE, MENE TEKEL PARSIN” (to number, to weigh and to divide).
Before doing so he tells the story of how Nebuchadnezzar, his father was taught
and accepted the primacy of God. Belshazzar knows this but sought instead to
use the temple vessels and praise gods of metals, stone and wood.
God has numbered the days of your kingdom, weighed you
on the scale and found you wanting and so your kingdom will be divided.
Belshazzar rewards and promotes Daniel.
Belshazzar died that night and his kingdom lost.
1 Peter
4: 12 – 19
Peter
encourages the faithful not to be surprised by the hardships they suffer on
account of being Christian. Those who are reviled for Christ are blessed. This
is preferable to being reviled for a real crime or trouble making. At the
judgement it will begin with those in God’s house – with us. So, if we the
faithful are concerned how much worse will it be for those who sin or who say
there is no God?
Peter
charges us to entrust ourselves to our faithful creator and continue to do good
(v.19).
Collect for
Evening Prayer
Beautiful bark on a gum tree New Norcia Benedictine Community WA L Osburn |
Almighty and compassionate God you are the one who blesses
and judges. Be with all your faithful people in every land who are being
persecuted or suffering at the hands of those full of pride, godless or
worshipping something that isn’t you so that your faithful are reassured of your
love, know they are blessed, continue to trust in you and continue to do your
will through
Jesus Christ and your Holy Spirit. Amen.
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