X

New every morning is your love, great God of light, and all day long you are working for good in the world. Stir up in us desire to serve you, to live peacefully with our neighbors and all your creation, and to devote each day to your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

"A Liturgy for Morning Prayer," Upper Room Worshipbook

Used by permission from the Book of Common Worship, © 2018 Westminster John Knox Press. All rights reserved. This prayer appears in “A Liturgy for Morning Prayer” in Upper Room Worshipbook.

Today’s Reflection

Genuinely compassionate action for enemies, even those who harm us, grows as we imagine ourselves sharing in Jesus’s experience of offering compassion even as he suffered. We experience what Jesus experiences. The Christian spiritual traditions describe this as becoming the image of Christ or entering into union with God. Although many people have thought of “union with God” as disengaging from life in the world, Christian compassion practices show the opposite: The deeper the union with God, the more deeply we engage life in the world, offering compassion even to those we experience as enemies. Through that compassion, enemies become reconciled, “in peace” with one another.

—Andrew Dreitcer, Living Compassion: Loving Like Jesus (Upper Room Books, 2017)

Today’s Question

When has God’s compassion enabled you to be reconciled with someone?  Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.”
—2 Corinthians 5:18-19 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

Lord, make me an instrument of your compassion.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room or share it in the comment section.

Something More

Reverend Junius B. Dotson was preaching at a funeral when suddenly he realized he wasn’t going to make it through the service. The next thing he knew, he was in an ambulance on the way to the ER, where he was diagnosed with extreme exhaustion. Read more about his Soul Reset.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.

Sponsored by The Upper Room. Copyright © 2019 | PO Box 340004 | Nashville, TN 37203-0004 | USA

3 Comments

  • Jill Posted September 21, 2019 6:22 am

    This requires a bit of serious consideration…have I been reconciled to someone? Hmmm – I know I have been able to move on peaceably – away from a relationship without lingering dissonant feelings. But reconciled? And if it were indeed the case, I would not say it was God’s compassion. One potential relationship comes to mind – but at that time I was not walking closely with God.
    Grateful to sleep in this morning, after getting home late from tennis last evening. And not much scheduled for today. Meeting a friend at a Greek festival for an early dinner. Another beautiful Fall day in store.
    Weekend well wishes to this UR clan. May your Fall Saturday be filled with beautiful leaves, hovering hummers and His sure Presence.

  • Julie Posted September 21, 2019 7:46 am

    My current enemy and I are not reconciled. In the beginning (which was many years ago, probably over a decade) when he insisted he wanted nothing to do with me and that we would live together as strangers and not speak at all, I asked that we still be courteous with one another. He said no, that his hatred of me prevented this. By the way, I had done nothing to warrent this treatment, I asked and he said he just hated me now, period.
    I have reconciled with my ex husband, Megan’s dad. But that I would attribute more to time healing his feelings.
    Prayers for Jill, may she feel well as she plays tennis and have no pain.
    Prayers for April, BJ, Betsy, Lou and Mary and their families.
    Prayers for healing for Andrea, Connie, Erich, Marcy and Robert.
    Prayers that Mary had a restful Saturday full of fun activities.
    Prayers that Robert resoved his keyboard issue. Technology is great until it malfunctions.
    Prayers for those we haven’t heard from in many days and weeks. Especially Connie, I miss her posts and her updated about her flowers and hummers.
    Tazzie has not been his normal playful self since the vet visit. I had Megan give him is pain medicine before she went to be and he has been playing this morning. Thank you Lord.
    Prayers, blessings, warm hugs and thank you dear fellow sojourners

  • robert moeller Posted September 21, 2019 1:49 pm

    Was up and on the road early this morning shortly after the sunrise. It was a nice drive, the leaves have changed some more. My keys are working at the moment!

    I agree with Jill, not sure I have been reconciled completely. Have recovered from the deepest grief I ever experienced. in a way that is being reconciled.

    Am thankful for the last few days when many activities, projects (the deck, railroad station model, shelving) have made progress. Have contacted two mental health practitioners hoping for some help. No word back yet.

    I think just about everyone needs some help of this sort some time in their life. I pray it will help me be reconciled with my son.

    Thankful for Jill and Julie’s prayers. Yes, technology is great when it works.
    I too miss people who were frequent posters. That you are reconciled with Megan’s Dad is a blessing. I hope there soon is a way. Julie, for you and Megan to be in more hospitable surroundings.

    God’s peace be with you, UR family, now and always. Thank You, Lord.

Add Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *