Matthew R. Green's Blog, page 40

A Collect to Be Happy to Learn Always

God of all wisdom, who hung the stars in place and wove the fabric of space and time, help us to recognize our lack and be content with being forever students and learners, that in humility we would be always willing to listen to you and to those who might teach us and so grow more and more in wisdom and depth of insight, through Jesus Christ our rabbi, who knows our hearts and intercedes for us before your throne in the Holy Spirit. Amen.

'But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students.' - Matthew 23:8

A Collect to Be Happy Regardless of Status

Great Jehovah, who alone holds all wisdom and knowledge, show us how to be content without titles and status, but grant us happiness in quietness and secrecy so that our lives would not be determined by others' attention but by your love for us, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.

'But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students.' - Matthew 23:8

A Collect to Be Content without the Praise of the World

Rabbi Jesus, who humbled yourself to take the nature of a servant, help us to be content with our place in the world, that we would not need status and praise to bolster our fragile hearts, but would find sufficient love in you and in your people to sustain us, through you who lives with the Father and Holy Spirit in perfect unity, now and forever. Amen.

'They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi.' - Matthew 23:6-7

A Collect to Recognize Our Need for Others' Esteem

Loving Lord, who desired each of us into being, reveal to us where we do good in order to obtain esteem from others, that we might learn to let go of our pride and trust that you love us already and that we are secure in you always, through you who with the Father and Holy Spirit rule over all things with justice, mercy, and wisdom, now and forever. Amen.

'They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long.' - Matthew 23:5

A Collect to Not Burden Others with Religion

Gentle Father, who knows our frailty for you made us, keep us from making heavy demands and laying burdensome expectations on others in your name, that we would respect the needs of your children and help them to grow in accordance with their nature and your love, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who showed us love to the end and sat down at your right hand in the Holy Spirit. Amen.

'They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them.' - Matthew 23:4

A Collect to Practice What We Preach

Great teacher, whose life stood as an example for us all, help us to align our words and our actions, that what we speak and tell others to do, we would likewise do and so not live as hypocrites but as true citizens of your blessed kingdom, through you who reigns over all things with the Father and Holy Spirit in glory forever. Amen.

"The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach." - Matthew 23:2-3

A Collect to Purify our Selfish Motivations

Lord God of truth, who knows the deep places of our hearts, reveal to us any selfish and hidden motives in our hearts, that we might purify our desires and love you and others well and so bless those whom you have placed in our lives, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

'For our appeal does not spring from deceit or impure motives or trickery, but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals, but to please God who tests our hearts.' - 1 Thes. 2:3-4

A Collect to Keep Going Despite Suffering

Lord Jesus Christ, who willingly endured the cross for our sake, grant us perseverance to continue onward even after suffering and rejection, for we know that you are with us and will never forsake us, and you take joy in our successes, and even moreso in the fulfillment of your call to us as ambassadors for you in the world, through you who reigns from heaven with the Father and Holy Spirit, one God, in joyous union forever and ever. Amen.

'You yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our coming to you was not in vain, but though we had already suffered and been shamefully mistreated at Philippi, as you know, we had courage in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in spite of great opposition.' - 1 Thes 2:1-2

A Collect for All Souls Day

Lamb of God, who is enthroned in heaven and lifted above all nations, let us not forget those who have gone before us and entered into your rest, but grant us both wisdom and warning from their lives and solace from their departure until we are reunited in your coming kingdom, through you who was raised to new life by the Father through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

'After this I looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands.' - Rev. 7:9

A Collect for All Saints Day

Beloved rabbi, who showed us the way forward so that many would walk in your ways, may we be inspired by those who have gone before us with such passion and love for you, that we would be moved to likewise walk in your footsteps, aflame with faith and devotion to the Father, through you who was raised to new life by the Father and Holy Spirit and now lives forever with them in glory. Amen.

'Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.' - Hebrews 12:1