Matthew R. Green's Blog, page 46

A Collect to Confront One Another Directly

Rabbi, who knows the truth of our hearts, remind us of our call to confront one another directly when we are troubled, that we might not fall prey to gossip or shame one another in spreading one another's faults but might call one another to account lovingly and so encourage and strengthen each other toward goodness, through you reigns with the Father and Holy Spirit, one God in perfect unity. Amen.

"If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one." - Matt. 18:15

A Collect to Reconcile with One Another

Trinitarian God, who enjoys perfect unity with one another, grant us courage to confess to one another our frustrations and resentments, that rather than burning in silence, we might reconcile from our hurts and walk together always in harmony, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with the Father and Holy Spirit are one in joyous union, now and forever. Amen.

"If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one." - Matt. 18:15

A Collect to Escape Hubris

Lord of all who live, who humbled yourself to take on the form of the least of us, keep us from hubris and vain beliefs of our high station or goodness, that we would not separate ourselves from one another but be willing to associate with all those you place in our path and learn from any what they have to teach, through you who through your humility was elevated to the highest place by the Father through the Holy Spirit. Amen.

'Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are.' - Rom. 12:16

A Collect to Share One Another's Pain and Joy

Gentle teacher, who stepped into our lives and our flesh in order to live among us, teach us to be present with one another and to share one another's pain and joy, that we all might love and be loved as you have shown us and our hearts would be filled and satisfied with goodness, through you who gave yourself for others and was raised to new life by the Father through the Holy Spirit. Amen.

'Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.' - Rom. 12:15

A Collect to Bless our Enemies

Lord Jesus, who forgave even those who condemned you to die, teach us to bless our enemies and those who hate us, that your creation would be filled with love and all would know the love of the Father who desired us into being and desires still that we know what it is to enjoy good in this life and in eternity, through you who reigns with the Father and Holy Spirit in glory, one God, now and forever. Amen.

'Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.' - Rom. 12:14

A Collect for Generosity

Gracious God, who has filled the earth with good things for all, grant to us a spirit of generosity, that we might willingly and with pleasure give to those in need, sharing what you have shared with us and so becoming children of our Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit in perfect joy and unity, one joyous God forever and ever. Amen.

'Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.' - Rom. 12:13

A Collect for Patience and Perseverance

Rabbi and Lord, who knows how life works for you created it, grant us patience and perseverance in all struggles that we encounter, that our hope in you would sustain us and make us able to wait and see what redemption the Father will bring, through you who reigns with the Father and Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

'Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.' - Rom. 12:12

A Collect to Love One Another

Great Trinity of persons, whose love overflowed into creation, teach us to love one another as the Father loves the Son and the Son loves the Father and the Spirit loves and is loved by both, that we might so enjoy life together as you have enjoyed one another since before time began and we might join in your perpetual delight in being, through Jesus Christ, the Son, our Lord. Amen.

'Love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.' - Rom. 12:10

A Collect to Lay Down our Lives

Lord Jesus, who laid down your life for the sake of many, teach us likewise to lay down our lives and to give up those things that serve only ourselves, that we might be free to follow you and thereby receive real life from your hands, through you who died and was raised again and ascended to the Father and Holy Spirit in glory. Amen.

'Then Jesus told his disciples, "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 will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?"' - Matthew 16:24-26

A Collect to Truly Recognize Jesus as Messiah

Anointed One, who holds the keys to life and death, kindle in our deepest hearts a true recognition of you as Messiah and Lord, that we might be filled with desire to truly follow you - to live as you lived and to learn from your ways and so become people who are true daughters and sons of the Father, through you who was lifted up and seated at the right hand of the Father in the Holy Spirit in glory. Amen.

'He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."' - Matthew 16:16