Matthew R. Green's Blog, page 72

A Collect to not Exalt Our Desires Above All

High King of Heaven, who is ruler above all, keep us from exalting ourselves above every person and authority, making our desires and opinions of greatest importance, triumphing over any others. Give us humble hearts that value and cherish the desires and thoughts of others, that love would bind together one body and one community with you as its head, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

'He, the lawless one, opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, declaring himself to be God.' - 2 Thes. 2:4

A Collect for Stability Against Anxious Rumor and Thoughts

Indwelling Spirit, seal of the renewal of our hearts, keep us from being troubled and shaken by rumors, deceit, and manipulation through the deep peace that only you can bring, with our hearts made secure by your love and presence within us, through Jesus Christ our Savior, by whom we have access into the grace of the Father and your eternal presence im our hearts. Amen.

'As to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we beg you, brothers and sisters, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as though from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord is already here.' - 2 Thes. 2:1-2

A Collect for the Spirit's Empowerment

Spirit of God, by whom we take our very breath, we are weak and frail, struggling to carry out our good desires and trapped by vice and sin. Take our intentions to live well and empower us to follow through, that we would become worthy of your invitation to live in your kingdom and you might be glorified by what we become, through Jesus Christ our redeemer and Lord, who reigns through you with the Father in Heaven. Amen.

'To this end we always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of his call and will fulfill by his power every good resolve and work of faith.' - 2 Thes. 1:11

A Collect to Remain Attached to God Always

Faithful Lord, who never changes due to circumstance, keep us steadfastly attached to you in all that we encounter, that despite struggle and trial and suffering, we might still find comfort and hope in your love for us and the work that you do in and through us always, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

'Therefore we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith during all your persecutions and the afflictions that you are enduring.' - 2 Thes. 1:4

A Collect to Love the Unlovely

Loving God, whose judgements are righteous but filled with mercy, keep us from dismissing and disparaging others because of their sin and foolishness, but help us to love them even as you love them with the hope that they might yet turn to you and accept your invitation of love, through Jesus Christ our Savior, who with you and the Holy Spirit loved us when we were unworthy. Amen.

'All who saw it began to grumble and said, "He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner." ... Then Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham."' - Luke 19:7, 9

A Collect to be Transformed by the Love of Jesus

Lord Jesus, whose compassion and kindness have no limit, come into our homes and our lives that we would be transformed by the love you share and your willingness to draw us into relationship with you, through you who abides in perfect union and joy with the Father and Holy Spirit. Amen.

'When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today." So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, "He has gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner." Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much."' - Luke 19:5-8

A Collect for All Saints Day

Almighty God, who has empowered those who have gone before us, may our hearts be lifted up by the memory of our forebears, those spiritual mothers and fathers who have sought to live according to your ways and were successful in abiding in you, accepting your invitation to be received into the eternal love of the trinity even as they still walked among us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Collect to Abide with Jesus and He with Us

Lord Jesus Christ, who meets us when we seek you out, come stay with us and abide in our home, and may we find great joy in receiving you, that we would know your presence with us and find our hearts made full by your friendship and love, through you who cares for the lowly and needy even as you reign in glory with the Father and Holy Spirit. Amen.

'When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today." So he hurried down and was happy to welcome him.' - Luke 19:5-6

A Collect to be Seen

Lord Jesus, whose compassion for your people runs deep, show us that our desires and needs are seen, that we would escape feeling alone and uncared for and would know that you are present to our deepest desires and longings, through you who rose from the grave by the love of the Father and Holy Spirit. Amen.

'So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way. When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, hurry and come down; for I must stay at your house today."' - Luke 19:4-5

A Collect to Sacrifice our Pride for the Sight of God

Humble savior, who stepped out of your majesty to live with us, help us to become willing to sacrifice our pride and status if it means that we might better see you, that even as we endure ridicule, we would find greater things in being connected to you, through you who now reigns forever in glory with the Father and Holy Spirit. Amen.

'He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way.' - Luke 19:3-4