Matthew R. Green's Blog, page 63

A Collect to Value People as God Does

Architect of all things, whose works of art fill the earth, when we interact with others, let us always see the persons in front of us, that we would not reduce your children to mere tools to satisfy our desires or means to accomplishing an end, but that we would love our sisters and brothers as you do, valuing them as people and beloved members of your family, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit forever. Amen.

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart." - Matthew 5:27-28

When am I most tempted to dehumanize people? Are there people that I am tempted to see as worthless or only good for meeting an end? Coworkers? Store clerks? Men or women in general? What makes me want to strip or skip past their humanness? Busyness? Lust? Disdain? How might Jesus be calling me to love them better, to remember their value as people and affirm that value?

A Collect to Keep Love and Relationship at the Heart of Things

Trinity of persons, whose love existed before time and brought about creation, help us to keep at the front of our minds that right relationship and love are at the heart of your being and desire for us, that we would focus before anything else on loving and living with one another well and so fulfill the law and the prophets, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who reigns with the Father and Holy Spirit together in unity and joy forever. Amen.

'So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.' - Matthew 5:23-26

Are there relationships that I resist dealing with or reconciling? What keeps me from wanting them repaired? Are there hurts or fears that make me not want to take steps? Not that every relationship can be reconciled or repaired, but are there things in me that don't want repair? What do I need to love well?

A Collect to Keep Religion Beneath God

Almighty God, ruler of all creation whom we worship in liturgy and song, keep us from elevating our religion so high that it exceeds its purpose, that we would not worship ritual, law, or scripture, but that such things would ever draw us to you and your desires for us and the world, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who spoke to us of your heart and speaks still through the Holy Spirit. Amen.

'So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.' - Matthew 5:23-24

In what ways am I more concerned with religion than I am with God? What parts of religion am I most tempted to elevate beyond its station and perhaps above even the Lord? Are there things that God is pointing to that I am perhaps missing because I am preoccupied with scripture, liturgy, disciplines, or other things? What would God say to me if I gave space to listen?

A Collect to Escape from Contempt

Almighty God, who knows the function of our hearts better than we could, keep us far from contempt for our brothers and sisters, and grant that we would be alert for when it creeps into our hearts, that love would be foremost in our relationships and our souls would remain free from such weight that would drag us down into Gehenna, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who loved us to the end and sat down at your right hand in the Holy Spirit. Amen.

'But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, 'You fool,' you will be liable to the hell of fire.' - Matthew 5:22

Who am I most tempted to have contempt for? Is it possible to turn that contempt into sadness? Is there some way to still desire good for those people and so love them even as I want them to be different?

A Collect to Deal Wisely with Anger

Righteous God, whose anger is just but whose wrath is tempered with love, help us to temper our anger with love and be cautious of its appearing, that we might not burn with anger, bitterness, or resentment and so corrupt our souls but learn to forgive and reconcile with wisdom, through Jesus Christ our example and teacher, who lives with you and the Holy Spirit in glory forever. Amen.

"You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not murder'; and 'whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, 'You fool,' you will be liable to the hell of fire." - Matthew 5:21-22

What tends to make me angry, and how do I handle it? How difficult is it for me to love even when I'm angry? What does my anger look like - explosive? Cold? Low and secret? Resentful? How might God want my relationship with anger to change?

A Collect for True Righteousness

Lord God, whose nature is goodness and love, give us hearts that truly desire to do good, that we would not merely fulfill your commandments in order to satisfy our selfish needs or keep ourselves from harm, but we would live as your true children, marked by love and virtue in our very being, through Jesus Christ our Lord who is alive and lives forever with you and the Holy Spirit in glory. Amen.

"For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 5:20

Are there ways that I treat religious duties as a checklist? Are there ways that I engage with the spiritual life selfishly - seeking primarily to make myself look good or to escape suffering or hell? What are my motivations for doing the things I do in the spiritual life? What could I learn if I asked myself and the Holy Spirit to reveal the true motivations of my heart and gave space for the Lord to speak? And am I willing to allow the Lord to change those things?

A Collect to Not be Overly Certain

Wise teacher, who is patient with us in our naivete but generous with your instruction, keep us humble, we who teach others your word, that we would not find ourselves to be certain of that which is not of you and mistakenly teaching others to violate your ways. Let us not put words into your mouth and so condemn ourselves, but be willing always to receive correction from you, through you who reigns from heaven with the Father and Holy Spirit. Amen.

'Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.' - Matthew 5:19

Are there places where I am inflexible - unwilling to be wrong or corrected? Are there things I am so certain of that perhaps even God could not change in my heart? What would it be like to take some time to allow the Spirit to show such things to me? Am I willing to let God speak into every place in my heart?

A Collect to Inspire Good in the World

Father of all creation, who cares for all your children for we are your own, may the good that we do be striking in the eyes of the world, that they would see there is something different and good in our hearts and actions and be drawn to you, desirous of entering your kingdom of love and joining in your blessed works, through Jesus Christ our Lord, whose self-sacrifice inspires glory to you and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

'In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.' - Matthew 5:16

Is what I am doing in the world visible to others? Does it seem different to others than how the world generally functions - particularly in a good way? Are others shocked by the way I love, bring peace, or radiate joy? Are there things preventing these things from being true? What might I need from the Holy Spirit to do such good in the world?

A Collect to Do Good in the World

Great teacher, whose wisdom could not be contained in all the libraries of the world, grant us courage and joy in diffusing your light and goodness into the world, that we would not hoard for ourselves your treasures, but would show your love to all who would receive it, that all the earth would be filled with your people doing good, through you who is alive and reigns with the Father and Holy Spirit now and forever. Amen.

'No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.' - Matthew 5:15

Is God inviting me to be a light in my community somehow? Is there some way God is showing me that I could be doing good in the world?

What might stop me from doing good in the world or community around me? Fear? Resentment? A sense that it's not my responsibility or problem? Not knowing where to start or what to do? What might happen if I asked the Spirit to help me move beyond those barriers?

A Collect to Not Sabotage the Good God Works in Us

Light of the world, who has given that light to all who will receive it, keep us from sabotaging ourselves, from nullifying the good that you have brought about in us, that we would not miss out on what you desire for us and that others around us would likewise benefit from that which you would do in and through us, through you who is alive and reigns with the Father and Holy Spirit forever in perfect union. Amen.

'No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house.' - Matthew 5:15

Are there things that I am resisting - invitations from the Spirit, growing edges, or circumstances that I am scared of or do not want? Is there anything Jesus might be asking of you or drawing you into that you struggle to accept? What do you need from God to step into those places that you are resisting?