Matthew R. Green's Blog, page 79

A Collect to Embrace the Paradox of Humility

Lord of paradox, whose ways are not like our ways, teach us to embrace your seemingly upside-down kingdom, where those who are honored are servants of all, that we might experience the goodness that you bring and the joy of living in a people who are exalted greatly for their love, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who reigns as servant and king at your right hand in the Holy Spirit. Amen.

"For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." - Luke 14:11

A Collect for Security to Cast Off Pride

God of all things, in whom there is no fear or shame, grant us sufficient security that we would be able to forgo our status and cast off our pride, trusting in your timing and delight to lift us up in your love, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who forwent his glory in order to take on our lowliness but was exalted to your right hand in the Holy Spirit. Amen.

"But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, 'Friend, move up higher'; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you." - Luke 14:10

A Collect to Escape a Fall Due to Pride

High king of heaven, who took on our low state, keep us from pride and the assumption of our importance and esteem, that we would not need to be made humble or fall from such a perilous place, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who humbled himself set an example that we should follow with you an the Holy Spirit. Amen.

"When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, 'Give this person your place,' and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place." - Luke 14:8-9

A Collect to Desire the Stability of God's Kingdom

Eternal God, who was and is and is to come, incline our hearts to rely upon your kingdom and your laws, that we would stand firmly on things that cannot be shaken and will remain always firm under our feet and we would be stable in mind and heart all the days of our lives, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who remained connected to you and your kingdom through the Holy Spirit and now reigns with you in glory forever. Amen.

'Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe.' - Luke 12:28

A Collect to Be Attentive to Christ's Invitations

Lord Jesus Christ, who speaks to us through your sacrifice of your great love, keep us ever mindful of your invitations, and keep our ears attentive to your call, that we would be ready to respond to you and be your servants in the world, doing the good you desire and have prepared for us to do, through you who speaks from heaven where you dwell in light perpetual with the Father and Holy Spirit. Amen.

'You have come to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking; for if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject the one who warns from heaven!' - Heb. 12:24-25

A Collect to Desire Spiritual Things

Lord of Heaven and Earth, whose throne sits in the new Jerusalem for which we wait with eager anticipation, do not let us be satisfied with only created things, but set in our hearts a longing for a spiritual home where you dwell in light and majesty forever, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit in glory, world without end. Amen.

'You have not come to something that can be touched.... But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering.' - Heb. 12:18, 22

A Collect to Welcome the Good of the Sabbath

Lord of the sabbath, who delights in bringing rest and life to your people, teach us to see the sabbath as you do, that it would not be a weight of responsibility for us, but a source of life and goodness that refreshes and heals us, through you who came to give us life through the power of the Father and Holy Spirit. Amen.

'But the Lord answered him and said, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?"' - Luke 13:15-16

A Collect to Value Love Above Law

Creator of all things, who loves all that you have made, keep us from hiding behind doing the right thing, but incline our hearts to pursue doing good in this world, that we would value people above laws and life above mere things and we would find joy in the good we might do for one another, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

'But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day." But the Lord answered him and said, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water?"' - Luke 13:14-15

A Collect to Sing Praise at God's Healing and Rescue of

Lord Jesus Christ, who brings healing to your people, rescue us from our pains and suffering, and may the relief that you provide inspire us to sing praises to Almighty God, thankful for the graciousness of the Lord and rejoicing in your power, through you who reigns in heaven with the Father and Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

'When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, "Woman, you are set free from your ailment." When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.' - Luke 13:12-13

A Collect for Healing

Great physician, who understands the inner workings of our bodies and souls, grant us relief from our sicknesses and diseases, that we might experience your kindness and know that we are loved by a god of power and healing, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who touched many in Israel in cooperation with you in the Holy Spirit. Amen.

'And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, "Woman, you are set free from your ailment."' - Luke 13:11-12