Matthew R. Green's Blog, page 29

A Lenten Collect to Approach God with Reverence

Our Father, who reigns over all things from your heavenly throne, teach us to respect your presence and your ways, that we would enter your presence with reverence and honor, our hearts focused on you and the devotion that you deserve, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God most high above all things and ruling in might and glory forever. Amen.

'He told those who were selling the doves, "Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father's house a marketplace!"' - John 2:16

A Lenten Collect to Escape Greed

God of justice, who sees all that is done for both good and evil in your creation, let not our desire for money and earthly power consume us, that we would use the resources of the world to do good for all and not merely amass treasures for ourselves, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who gave up much in order to do good for your children and now reigns over all things with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

'In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, "Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father's house a marketplace!"' - John 2:14-16

A Lenten Collect to Desire and Value What Jesus Desires

Son of Man, who will one day return in the glory of the Father, shape our hearts that we would value what you value and desire that which you desire, so that we would be welcomed into the loving and joyous kingdom of God and rejoice to see you face to face at the fulfillment of the age, through you who reigns in glory forever with the Father and Holy Spirit. Amen.

"Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." - Mark 8:38

A Lenten Collect to Desire That Which is Good for Our Souls

Almighty God, who has given us boundless wonders and treasures in your creation, draw our hearts to things that bring life and goodness and health to our bodies and souls, that we might escape the trap of accumulating things to our own destruction yet still find satisfaction with all that creation offers, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit in perpetual joy and love. Amen.

'For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life?' - Mark 8:36

A Lenten Collect to Cease Clinging

Great Teacher, who spoke words of perfect wisdom to your people, show us where we cling to our lives to our own detriment, that we might let go of those things that hinder us and receive the true life that you have promised, through you who gave your life and was raised again to the Father's side in the Holy Spirit. Amen.

'He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it."' - Mark 8:34-35

A Lenten Collect for the Willingness to Suffer

Lord Jesus Christ, who went willingly into the hands of those who abused you, grant us willing hearts to suffer in the same way, that we would not resist danger, death, or the loss of those things precious to us in the face of God's promise of greater things, through you who was raised to life and exalted to the right hand of the Father in the Holy Spirit. Amen.

'He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.' - Mark 8:34

A Lenten Collect to Recognize What We Must Deny of Ourselves

Rabbi Jesus, who walks in the ways of the Kingdom of God, show us where our hearts cling to our own ways and pleasures and desires, that we might understand what we must cast off in order to follow you and enter into your life, through you who gave much for our sake and received back from the Father and Holy Spirit all that you had left and more. Amen.

'He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me."' - Mark 8:34

A Lenten Collect to Lay Aside Earthly Desires

Lord Jesus, who follows always the will of the Father, show us where our hearts are set on self-centered and worldly things, that we might be content to lay aside such things and desire most of all that which is of you and your heavenly kingdom, through you who is alive and reigns in glory with the Father and Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.

'He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."' - Mark 8:32-33

A Collect to Remain Close to Jesus in Trouble

Lord Jesus, who remained ever steady in your closeness to the Father, grant that we also might remain close to you, that when we must endure suffering and rejection, we would yet have a place of love and peace in your presence and so be able to stand in the face of trouble, through you who died but was raised to new life through the power of the Father and Holy Spirit. Amen.

'Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.' - Mark 8:31

A Lenten Collect for Cleansed Hearts

Almighty God, who rules over all things in heaven and earth, refine our hearts and grant us minds that are set on what is good, that we might be saved from our sin and the corrupt and damaged hearts and made new in Jesus Christ our Lord, in whose name we ask, who was raised to new life and now reigns in glory forever with you and the Holy Spirit in heaven. Amen.

'And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you--not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.' - 1 Pet. 3:21-22