Matthew R. Green's Blog, page 58

A Collect to Believe and Follow in Jesus' Footsteps

Almighty God, who performs great things for your people, increase our faith in Jesus, his words, his works, and his way of life that we would follow in his footsteps as well as we are able and so enter into your kingdom and receive real life as he promised, in the name of Jesus, the Christ, your son, who reigns with you in heaven with the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

'Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.' - John 20:30-31

A Collect for Strengthened Faith Even in Darkness

Lord Jesus Christ, who was raised to new life and offers to us the same, strengthen our faith even when we walk in darkness, that we might experience the blessing of entering your kingdom, of enjoying life as you intended, and of being received into your welcoming arms, through you who reigns in heaven with the Father and Holy Spirit in perfect joy forever. Amen.

'Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."' - John 20:29

A Collect of Thanks for God's Patience in our Weakness

Lord Jesus, who knows our weaknesses because you took on our frail form, we thank you for your patience and understanding when we are burdened by grief, frustration, and trial. As you did with Thomas, reach through all that clouds our eyes and grant what we need to trust in you and your power and presence, through you who was raised to new life at the Father's command through the Holy Spirit. Amen.

'But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe." A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe."' - John 20:24-27

A Collect to Receive and Commune with the Holy Spirit

Loving God, whose nature is relationship and love, may we receive your Holy Spirit and attend to what you speak to us through the Counselor, that we might be with you and you with us as close as our breath, confiding in one another as beloved friends along the way, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit in perfect harmony, world without end. Amen.

'When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit."' - John 20:22

A Collect to Love as Jesus Loved

Lord Jesus, you came into this world to show us the great love of the Father. May we follow in your footsteps, pointing all around us to your inestimable love and sharing that love with one another in tangible ways that all might join in your family and live the blessed life that you offer, through you who lives forever in perfect joy with the Father and Holy Spirit. Amen.

'Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you."' - John 20:21

A Collect of Thanks for Jesus' Coming Into Our Fearful Places

Rabboni, who was resurrected to lead the way to new life, we praise you for entering even into our places of fear and hiding, bringing word of welcome and love even for we who yet working out our trust in your power and goodness. Grant that we would receive you and the comfort you provide, through you who reigns now in glory forever with the Father and Holy Spirit. Amen.

'When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you."' - John 20:19

A Collect for Holy Saturday

Spirit of the Most High, whose voice may thunder or may whisper, grant us courage to walk in darkness and to stay present to our suffering, trusting that your will is good and your timing is wise and that resurrection will come even though we grieve in the present, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who was silent this day but ascended in time to the right hand of the Father in you. Amen.

'When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.' - Matthew 27:57-61

A Good Friday Collect

Gracious Lord, who suffered so greatly for our sake, through your wounds make whole we who are broken, sick, and beaten down, and bring healing to your needy children who turn our eyes to you, through you who was lifted to the cross and now reigns from heaven with the Father and Holy Spirit in glory forever and ever. Amen.

'Surely he has borne our infirmities and carried our diseases; yet we accounted him stricken, struck down by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises we are healed.' - Isaiah 53:4-5

A Maundy Thursday Collect

Lord Jesus Christ, who in humility took the place of a servant, grant us such humility and love that we would not hesitate to care for others, paying no mind to our status or appearance, but giving of ourselves so that your love would fill our communities and the whole earth, through you who showed us love to the end and then sat down at the right hand of the Father and Holy Spirit. Amen.

'So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.' - John 13:14-15

A Collect to Share our Griefs with God

Ever-present comforter, sent to be with us in every circumstance, may we lay our troubles and griefs before you openly, trusting that you hear us and that you are moved with us, sharing our hurts and granting comfort by your nearness and love, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who suffered for our sake and was raised to new life in you through the power of the Almighty Father. Amen.

'When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved.' - John 11:32-33