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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

Note: This week’s New Every Morning reflections are structured differently to follow the format of our featured title Rally: Communal Prayers for Lovers of Jesus and Justice, which addresses issues of social justice through reflection and over 50 call-and-response prayers known as litanies.

Chronic illness shrunk my world: a bedroom, reading fairy stories to my boy, a little writing. My prayers were angry and inarticulate. Surprisingly, illness also expanded my world. Physical pain plus social media awakened something powerful in me: No longer mildly concerned about having a fair society, I felt every injustice acutely. I began using my writing to campaign globally for change—not only for medical equality for ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) patients but also for disabled people and anyone excluded or stigmatized. … Being betrayed by my body robbed me of much, but it gave me sensitive ears to social injustice and a louder voice to challenge it.

—Tanya Marlow with Britney Winn Lee, Rally: Communal Prayers for Lovers of Jesus and Justice (Upper Room Books, 2020)

Today’s Question

How does your relationship with your body influence your understanding of justice? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer,
my God, my rock in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

—Psalm 18:2, NRSV

Today’s Litany

ONE: Blessed are those who groan and long for healing.
PART: Blessed are we who know pain.
ALL: Blessed are those who groan, for the Spirit of God groans with them.
PART: Blessed are we who cry, “It’s not fair!” and “How long, O Lord?”
ALL: Blessed are those who groan, for the Spirit of God groans with them.
PART: Blessed are we who weep for ourselves and wail prophetically for the pain of the world.
ALL: Blessed are those who groan, for the Spirit of God groans with them.

Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

The final litany from Rally was written by Britney Winn Lee in the beginning days of the global pandemic. This prayer reminds us that hope endures; goodness prevails; people surprise us; and love cannot, has not, will not fail. Watch and listen.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

3 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted May 10, 2021 5:55 am

    I don’t know how to answer today’s question, yes I’m not in perfect health, I do take medication and have help with hearing, but both of these make life pretty normal.I’m very thankful for their help. There are many far worse than me. I do help others with their health problems and will continue to do so. Prayers for those in my church, this oasis, and the world that their health care needs are met,
    I advocate for improved healthcare for all. Thank You, Lord.

  • Julie Posted May 10, 2021 9:07 am

    I understand the author’s words intrinsically. I cried out to the Lord regarding my pain and asked “Why me!” often when I suffered from the gangrene infected wounds that covered my fingers and toes for months every winter. Now that my doctor found a medication that keeps my fingers and toes relatively healthy every year I thank God. Ah the capriciousness of humans. But I also notice people who are iin pain more. I often ask them about their issues and they pour out their pain to me. Yesterday I met a woman who has arthritis that causes her much pain. We talked for a long time and told her I would pray for her. I also asked the server at the bagel place I get takeout from on mornings Megan and I am together or have errands why I had not seen her in awhile and she explained she was in the hospital and had been diagnosed with Chrohn’s disease. I also told her I would pray for her and talked to her as much as a busy bagel shop in the morning will allow.
    Prayers for Robert and his church and his health, may all be well with the transition and his health. Prayers for Ally and her improving health with new medication, may she continue to feel better and may David also continue mending from COVID after effects . Prayers for April and her coontinued Bible reading and faith growing. Prayers for Jill as she cares for Larry while also caring for her students and their education as well as her own health. Prayers for Lou’s safe travel and son’s relationship and job and daughter’s schoolwork. Prayers for the UR. Thank you all for your advice regarding phoning the lady from shopping.

  • Jill Posted May 10, 2021 1:28 pm

    I would surely say that since my diagnosis 3 1/2 years ago – I try to be more aware of when someone could potentially be in pain, but there is no visible evidence of it. With my friend sharing so much of her story with me – I appreciate her non-exaggerated truth-telling – because she didn’t want me to have a rose colored picture of my future. I feel like I am definitely more appreciative of the health which I currently have and my ability to be active. How all this makes me think about justice – I don’t know that there is a connection. But I do believe that once we are a caregiver or close to a person in chronic pain, or experience it ourselves, we have absolutely no idea what it is like to wake up each morning and face the energy needed to get through the day.
    On this note, my knee had been bothering me for close to 8 months. Yes, I was still able to remain active and do mostly what I wanted…but not without cost. It took me much longer than expected to recover from California and I feared a big setback even when improving. About a week ago – like a light switch – the knee is almost back to normal. I can fully bend it – which I had not been able to do since last summer. This is crazy stuff – but I am grateful for this reprieve. Hoping the increase in tennis, with the summer season beginning tomorrow, doesn’t set something else off into a flare.

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