29 March 2016
Collects
Prayers developed from the daily readings
Tuesday 29 March 2016
Morning Prayer
Psalm
27
“The
Lord is my light and salvation whom shall I fear” (v. 1). The psalm begins with
great words of consolation. The psalmist is in trouble and waits patiently on
the Lord. Living close to and with God, being in God’s presence is the only
thing desired. The psalmist promises sacrifices of praise and song. “ ‘Come,’
my heart says, ‘seek his face.’” (v.8).
Lamentations
3: 1 – 18 (19 – 30)
The
first section described dreadful personal and physical distress: “my soul is
bereft of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is” (v.17). The lament moves
on calling to mind God’s steadfast love and that God does listen to and come to
those who wait for him. Sometimes it is right to sit quietly and wait.
Mark
12: 13 – 34
Jesus
is tested about the payment of taxes. He asks for a coin. On the coin is the
head and title of the emperor. Hebrew coins were minted with no graven images,
so he was given a Roman coin. Jesus says “give to the emperor the things that
are the emperor’s and to God the things that are God’s.” As everything seen and
unseen is God’s, the premise of the question has shifted.
Technical
questions about who is whose spouse in heaven are put to Jesus. Jesus’s answer
indicates their lack of understanding of the power of God or the conversation
of God with Moses (the burning bush) where God says he is the God of Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob – present tense. He is the God of the living.
Finally
someone tests him on the fundamental of Jewish belief, “which is the greatest
commandment?” Jesus answers with the words of the Shema (Hebrew for listen) and with love your neighbour as yourself.
The questioner agrees and says these are more important than any offerings and
sacrifices.
Collect for Morning Prayer
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| Essential tree-lopping Harrietville Vic L Osburn |
Tuesday 29 March 2016
Evening Prayer
Psalm
69: 1 – 21
The
psalmist is in deep trouble. The psalm suggests he has been fiercely promoting
a particular policy or procedure and the outcomes are negative and unexpected
so that his reputation is destroyed. He admits he was wrong. He is doing
penance and now is suffering ridicule and community humiliation. The psalmist
asks for rescue and redemption and will sit faithfully and wait for God’s
response.
Lamentations
3: 40 – 51
The
lamentation moves on to self-examination and repentance to admitting the
rebellion and transgressions. There is an acceptance that the offences are
great and, as a result, prayers appear to be unheard. Enemies, panic,
devastation and destruction are in charge. Grief is overwhelming.
Philippians
3: 7 –16
Paul
here says that the things he most valued and prized are, when compared to the
value of knowing Christ now rubbish. He is saying everything good in his life
pales into insignificance; it does not mean that it was not good, or right. It
isn’t a case of him being good and therefore earning closeness to God. It is because
of faith he seeks closeness to Christ, because Christ has made Paul his
own. Paul then says, this doesn’t mean
he stops. With Christ’s aid he strains forward, like a runner straining for the
finishing line, waiting for Christ’s call.
Collect for Evening Prayer
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| Pearls for a deacon's stole L Osburn |
Wise and powerful God, you peel back
our eyes to our folly. Jerusalem and the temple, the great prize and treasure
are just vehicles for connection with you. When we value the vehicle more than
the connection, we lose our way. All our pious efforts are nothing compared to
seeking you. Help us now as we reflect on this day to set aside the concerns
that steer us away from you, to sit and seek your face and closeness through
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, your love our Father, and the power of your
Holy Spirit. Amen.
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