Thoughts on a Sunday Collect

The collect for Sunday Morning Prayer in our Anglican Church in North America 2019 Book of Common Prayer is rich in Christian wisdom.  It states:

O God our King, by the resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ on the first day of the week, you conquered sin, put death to flight, and gave us the hope of everlasting life: Redeem all our days by this victory; forgive our sins, banish our fears, make us bold to praise you and to do your will; and steel us to wait for the consummation of your kingdom on the last great Day; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

In this prayer we are directed to look to God who is not of our own imagination.  He is, rather, God the King over all.  He is Creator and Lord and Redeemer.  We are to acknowledge and follow Him as Lord of all.  Everything, everyone, and every nation is under His sovereign control.  One day, we are told, and as we confess in this prayer, all things will be settled, consummated, according to His will.  There will be a final day for this earth.  The Bible directs us, then, to prepare for that day.

We prepare for that day by looking to the One who makes sense of this life and who gives hope for that everlasting life to come.

He is the Way.  For He alone defeats our human enemies: fear, sin, and death.  On the cross and by His resurrection Jesus conquered sin, put death to flight, and gave us the hope of everlasting life.  Now we can make sense of this life and hope for the next.  And throughout this life Jesus promises:

To forgive our daily sins.  To banish our daily fears.  To open our hearts and lips to give Him praise.  And he enables us to wait in patient, yet confident hope, for his return and His establishment of Eternal Peace—Shalom, Harmony, Wholeness, THE CONSUMMATION.