10 November 2016
Collects
Prayers
developed from the daily readings
Thursday 10
November 2016
Morning
Prayer
Psalm 25
This psalm is a plea for
protection from personal enemies. The psalmist asks for guidance and
forgiveness and to be taught God’s way and truth. God is asked to guard our
lives, deliver us, allow us to have refuge and for our integrity and
righteousness to preserve us.
Jonah
4
Jonah,
angry with God says basically, “I knew it! I knew in your mercy you would not
harm them.” This enables him to excuse his disobedient act of going to
Tarshish. He goes out of the city and builds himself a booth to see what
happens. God makes a vine grow overnight which gives Jonah extra shade and for
which Jonah is grateful. The next day a worm eats and kills the vine. Jonah is
so hot he begs to die. God asks him whether he is justified in being angry
about a vine (one he didn’t even grow himself) and Jonah says, “Yes, angry
enough to die” (v.9). So God compares the number of people in Nineveh, who are saved
to the vine and asks, “And should I not be concerned about Nineveh?” (v.11).
Matthew
23: 29 – 39
Jesus
indicts those Pharisees who venerate the prophets and claim that if they had
been alive they would not have killed or harmed those prophets. Jesus says that
he will send more prophets, sages and scribes, who they will kill, crucify,
flog in their synagogues and harry from town to town. More guilt will come on
them as a result. Jesus laments over Jerusalem and says how often he wanted to
gather up the people like a chicken gathers her brood under her wings for
protection. But they are not willing. They will not see Jesus again until they
can say, “Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord” (v. 39).
Collect for Morning Prayer
Double daffodil Harrietville Vic L Osburn |
Holy and
gracious Lord you care for everyone and you wait patiently for us all to get
that message and turn to you. Today, help us to hold on to and meditate on “say
to my soul I am your salvation”. So that in all the challenges we confront we
will be guided to do your will in those moments so that others may experience
the comfort of your grace through Jesus Christ Your Son our Lord and
Your Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.
Thursday 10
November 2016
Evening
Prayer
Psalm 27
“The Lord is my light and
salvation: whom shall I fear?” The
psalmist seeks God’s face, God’s teaching and God’s level path and ends with,
“Wait for the Lord: be strong and let your heart take courage: wait for the
Lord.”
Wisdom
1: 16 – 2: 11
Here
the ungodly and their reasoning are explored. Life to them is short and
sorrowful. When it is over it is over. For them, being born is a chance and
once people are dead we are gone and forgotten. A life of happiness is pursued
– enjoying the world like children, filling up with costly wine, using costly perfumes,
not missing a spring flower, rosebuds, parties and thinking this is their due.
As a result the righteous poor, the widowed and aged are oppressed. The law of
might is the law of right and the weak are counted as useless.
Revelation 4
John has a vision where he his
taken up in the spirit to a throne with one seated on it and he describes the
details around. 24 elders worshipping, 4 creatures with eyes seeing all, lamp
stands and a crystal sea. Without ceasing the creatures sing “Holy, holy, holy,
the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come” (v.8). All around
sing a response.
Collect for Evening Prayer
New Buds Harrietville Vic L Osburn |
Holy and magnificent God, your love
for us and promise for us is eternal. You give us the world to delight in and
more, you give us light and insight to care for others, for in those moments of
loving you and loving them are the riches better than fine, fine gold. Make our
lives over in your service and the service of others so that our short lives
are packed with joy and love and worship for you holy Lord, holy and mighty,
holy and eternal through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment