18 November 2016

Collects

Prayers developed from the daily readings 

Friday 18 November 2016

Morning Prayer

Psalms 41 and 44: 1 - 9

The psalmist is sick. Illness was seen in the past as punishment for sin. Enemies hope the psalmist will die but come and visit being pleasant, then make plots when they leave. Even the psalmist’s best friend has turned his back. The psalmist prays for healing, restoration and vindication. God is blessed.

This portion of the second psalm reminds us of God’s actions in nation building and protecting the people in wars. They do not go into battle trusting in their own abilities but in God. And yet, now they have suffered a defeat.

Zechariah 12

This is another oracle from Zechariah concerning God who founded the heavens and the earth and formed the human spirit within. It talks of a time when Jerusalem is the centre of a maelstrom. Other nations will come against it but Judah will have the first land victories and Jerusalem will be reinhabited. God will protect Jerusalem against the other nations.

God will pour out a spirit of compassion and supplication on Jerusalem so that when they recognise how they have pierced God they will mourn like we mourn over the death of our old child or our first-born child. Everyone will mourn.

Mark 1: 1 – 13

The passage introduces John the Baptist clothed in camel hair baptises people who repent their sins. John baptises with water and says another, greater than he will come who will baptise with the Holy Spirit. Jesus is Baptised by John and experiences a voice saying “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased” (v.11). Jesus then goes into the wilderness where he is tempted by Satan and cared for by angels.

Collect for Morning Prayer

Call and Praise
New Norcia Benedictine Community
WA  L Osburn

Holy Lord maker of all there is, you ask us to love you, love our neighbours and give you thanks and praise. Be with us now and every day, guiding all our actions, so that your Holy Spirit lives in us, through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord. Amen.

Friday 18 November 2016

Evening Prayer

Psalm 44: 10 – 27

In this psalm there has been a great defeat. The people are scattered, enslaved, had everything taken and destroyed. They are humiliated, derided, taunted, reviled and disgraced. But they do not forget God’s promise or turn their hearts away. If they had, would not God discover it? God knows our heart’s secrets. The psalmist ends with a call to God to rise, to come to our aid and redeem us through steadfast love.

Wisdom 7: 7 – 20

The prayer for understanding brings the spirit of wisdom.  Wisdom is sought before any other treasure and indeed all treasures are but clay compared to wisdom. Wisdom is loved more than health and beauty and her radiance never ceases. All good things come with wisdom – they are like her children. Learning wisdom without guile and sharing what is known – giving it to others enables people to be friends with God. May God grant that our speech is based on judgements that come from wisdom for God alone is the source of all knowledge.

Revelation 9: 13 - 21

In the vision, the sixth angel blows a trumpet. This releases four angels who have been waiting and whose task it is to kill one third of all humans. They have 200 million troops of cavalry. The manner of death is through plagues. But the rest of humanity does not give up their evil, idolatry, theft or fornication

Collect for Evening Prayer

The families along the river
New Norcia Benedictine Community
WA  L Osburn

Holy and almighty God you know our hearts' secrets, come to our aid and redeem us. Give us wisdom and love to share you with others and build their understanding so that when the time comes those who are open to you will be among the saved and through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.