Matthew R. Green's Blog, page 88

A Collect Asking for Christ's Blessing

Lord Jesus, gentle teacher and shepherd to us who need your guidance, grant to us your blessing, and let us receive it deep within our hearts, that we would be encouraged, connected to you and strengthened by your love, through you whose love has forever been grounded in perfect harmony with the Father and Holy Spirit. Amen.

'Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them.' - Luke 24:50

A Collect of Thanks for Christ's Message of Forgiveness

Suffering Messiah, who was willing to endure brutal treatment for our sake, thank you for sending out your message of forgiveness and repentance, that we who are far removed from your suffering and resurrection in time and space might yet still hear and receive and turn to you for this great gift of love, through you who rose and ascended to the Father in the Holy Spirit. Amen.

'And he said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.' - Luke 24:46-47

A Collect to Understand the Word of God

God of all knowledge, author of all creation and the one from whom nothing can be hid, open our minds and hearts to understand your word, that we would set aside our misconceptions and assumptions and receive what it is that you desire for us to know in this time, through Jesus Christ our Lord, the incarnate Word sent from the Father along with the Holy Spirit for our reconciliation. Amen.

'Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures.' - Luke 24:45

A Collect to Desire the Wisdom of God

God of wisdom, who has known the end from the beginning, thank you speaking to us and for giving us all that is written to teach and instruct us about you and your ways. Grant us humility that we would recognize our need for wisdom and desire to receive it from your law and writings and open ourselves to what you have prepared for our good, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit forever. Amen.

'Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you--that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled."' - Luke 24:44

A Collect to Celebrate with One Another

Joyous Trinity, who rejoices with one another continually, grant that we would be able to rejoice in one another, even when we suffer loss at their gain, that we would find our happiness in the fortune and circumstances of one another and be united in the good that you are doing in us all, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who was glad to be united with the Father and rejoiced to send us the Holy Spirit. Amen.

"You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I am coming to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I." - John 14:28

A Collect for Peace in Anxious Times

Holy Spirit, breath of God present in our souls, bring peace to our strained and anxious hearts. Bring us comfort and strengthen our trust in your goodness that we would not be buffeted by fear and anger and pain but would find stability and rest in you, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Father are crowned high over all creation, world without end. Amen.

'Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.' - John 14:27

A Collect to Hear the Holy Spirit Within

Spirit of God, advocate for our souls, open our ears to hear you teaching us deep within our hearts, that we would grow wise and knowledgeable and would learn to walk ever more as Jesus did, in connection with you and the Father always, trusting in your presence and goodness toward us, through Jesus Christ our Lord who lives and reigns in you and the Father forever in glory. Amen.

"I have said these things to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you." - John 14:25-26

A Collect to Desire Christ Ever More

Lord Jesus Christ, who speaks the word of the Father, forgive us for our failures to keep your words, but teach us to use those failings as a means of seeing our disconnection from you, that we might recognize our lack of love and seek to come closer, delighting in you and your desire for us, through you who stooped down to reach out to us and show us the way to the Father and Holy Spirit. Amen.

'Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.' - John 14:24

A Collect to Love the Lord

Heavenly Father, who created all that is out of your great love, foster in us a love for you that matches even the smallest spark of your love for us, that there would be no barrier between us and you would make your home with us, abiding in our hearts and filling us with the comfort of your presence, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who kept your word perfectly and ascended to your right hand in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

'Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them."' - John 14:23

A Collect to be Healed

Lord Jesus Christ, our great physician who knows our frames for you created them, heal our diseases of body, mind, and heart, for we are indeed broken and sick, and we have need of your care. Make us whole that we would praise you evermore for your goodness to your children, through you who gives life to even those who are dead and who sits at the right hand of the Father Almighty with the Holy Spirit. Amen.

'Jesus said to him, "Stand up, take your mat and walk." At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk.' - John 5:8-9