Matthew R. Green's Blog, page 96

A Lenten Collect to Go When Led Difficult Places

Lord Jesus, who is filled by the Spirit because you are one with the Spirit, you were led into the wilderness to remain for forty days. We may likewise be led by the Spirit into places that we may not wish to go. Give us courage and strength to obey, trusting in the work that you are doing in us, that we might emerge more like you and ever more devoted to the Father, through you who reigns in Trinitarian love forever. Amen.

'Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness.' - Luke 4:1

A Lenten Collect of Thanks for Jesus' Solidarity in Temptation

Lord Jesus, who was sensitive to the movements of the Holy Spirit on earth, we thank you for your willingness to be tempted as we are, that you might sympathize with our trials and know what it is to bear our weak and frail frames. Grant us the strength to resist as you did, through you who triumphed over sin and death and sat down at the right hand of the Father in the Spirit. Amen.

'Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished.' - Luke 4:1-2

Moving the Blog

I’ve been preparing a new site and blog that will be more active that late. If you’d like to visit, you can find me at http://MatthewRGreen.com/ and the blog at http://MatthewRGreen.com/blog/ I’ll be continuing to write collects regularly, but I’ll also be adding more regular thoughts, at times via video. Come join me!

A Collect for November 11, 2015

“And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them…” Almighty One, in whose presence healing flows, give us the courage to reveal to ourselves, to you, and to your body, which is the church, the lame […]

A Collect for November 9, 2015

“… it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” O God, whose nature is love and who provided the Law in order to lead us to that love, teach us to pay attention to that which is in us and that which […]

A Collect for November 3, 2015

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field…” O Lord, who fills the storehouses of heaven with treasure and who is, himself, the prize most to be desired, open our eyes that we might behold the true value of your ways and your kingdom so that we might be eager to sacrifice those […]

A Collect for November 1, 2015

Gracious Lord, who, knowing that you would heal the source of the crowd’s suffering, yet still were moved by the pain of those around you, grant that we might likewise have soft hearts that are moved to share in the suffering of those around us. We ask this in your name, who lives and intercedes for us all […]

A Collect for Holy Saturday

“The joy of our hearts has ceased; our dancing has been turned to mourning.” God of heaven and earth, whose grief��rent the curtain of the temple and shook the foundations of the earth, rend also our hearts at the loss we have suffered, and may��our bones be shaken at the��suffering we have caused; cause us […]

A Collect for Good Friday

“… he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” Suffering servant, who for this day was born and for this sacrifice came into the world, fill our hearts��with sorrow��that we caused this day to be necessary, with gratitude��at what you were willing to endure, with��compassion for those like Pilate and the council��who did not […]

A Collect for Maundy Thursday

“… he loved them to the end.” Loving Father, who looks upon us with joy and compassion, teach us to love as you have loved, giving of yourself as a servant, teacher, and sacrifice, and let us also receive��your love fully, that we might not give��out of emptiness and obligation, but out of��fullness and joy, […]