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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

The pain that moves us is nestled within social conditions that perpetuate it. People ravaged by hunger, discrimination, violence, and disease live within a web of social complexities. Their affliction is rooted in and aggravated by power inequities, cultural prejudices, unjust economic systems, inattentive institutional policies, and oppressive political powers. And suffering will continue as long as the social structures that sustain it remain unchecked and untransformed. Compassionate action, therefore, can take the form of public advocacy, political lobbying, education, reform campaigns, nonviolent resistance, and civil disobedience. Compassion seeks justice.

—Frank Rogers Jr. Practicing Compassion (Upper Room Books, 2015)

Today’s Question

How does compassion motivate you to seek justice? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

Therefore the LORD waits to be gracious to you;
therefore he will rise up to show mercy to you.
For the LORD is a God of justice;
blessed are all those who wait for him.

—Isaiah 30:18 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

Lord, open my eyes so that I may see who around me needs compassion.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

The Upper Room is committed to a ministry that is increasingly global, antiracist, and ecumenical. This is the work of discipleship and spiritual formation.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

3 Comments

  • Jill Posted August 9, 2020 6:24 am

    An interesting question. This reading also causes me to reflect on yesterday’s question…about someone needing compassion. Last evening there was a shooting on my street. I have lived here 22 years and have never felt unsafe. My neighbors across the street assisted the gunshot victim – he had banged on their back door seeking assistance. They called 911 and put a tourniquet on his leg. Initially unbeknownst to me – I saw the likely shooter jump in a getaway car. Crazy evening, crazy times. I thought the sounds were firecrackers at first…but then there were sirens and more sirens and I put the pieces together once I spoke with my neighbor. I gave my account to an officer and later a detective. Thankfully my neighbor and her boyfriend acted out of compassion to assist the injured young man. Also, thinking back – Roger reacted differently than he does to firecracker noise. He is unphased by the firecrackers. But, he immediately jumped off my lap last evening when the shots rang out. He was vastly engrossed in the activities outside, from a window upstairs, as police cars, ambulance, fire trucks and so many police were spreading crime scene tape and interviewing my neighbors. There is a section of my part of town which is known for its crime and gang activity. I have never felt my neighborhood had high crime. I have ran outside at 5 AM for so many years now without incident. I had always hoped I would leave this area on my terms, when I was ready. Sure hope it is not heading in the direction where my hand is forced and I must move sooner than planned. From what the police were saying – it was a drive by…so I feel like this was more random happenstance…the victim was walking on the cross road up from my house. I am grateful I was not out for a walk – I often walk this time in the evening, or out watering my flowers…I had done that earlier in the day.
    Will be lying low today, watching golf and basketball, and hopefully doing quite a bit of reading. There is also a Christian music fest on line for several hours this afternoon and evening, will have that running on my computer as well.

  • Julie Posted August 9, 2020 8:22 am

    I think of this often, especially now. I have given and continue to give to the local food bank. The grocery store I use takes donations when one checks out. Megan and I discuss this concept often and we were exploring various means of volunteering to turn our words to action when the pandemic arrived in the US. We put those plans on hold although the need is great. With my health issues it is not safe to be around to many people and I choose my activities to limit my contact with others.
    Prayers for Jill, her neighbors and the young victim. May Jil’c sense of securily return and no new incidents occur. Thank you, Lord, for the compassion of her neighbors and please aid the healing and recovery of the victim. Please be with the shooter as well that he may repent of his crime and turn from a life of gang violence.
    Prayers, thank you and stay well dear UR

  • April Posted August 9, 2020 11:24 pm

    Last night my devotional identified Jesus as our compassionate companion. Yes, I said to myself, among all the other adjectives, compassionate speaks volumes when I turn to Him. Compassion allows me to stop and be kind, devoting time away from myself to others, just as Jesus did.
    I am contemplating writing a note to a local youth home for those in difficult situations asking if they thought my writing notes to those there offering encouragement would be helpful. I would be like a pen pal, and all correspondence would be handled by the home in that I would send notes there and they would send all the notes to me. I would have a pen name and not do direct correspondence so that when they leave the home, that would end our notes. I have been thinking of this for a time and now with our week of compassion thoughts, it came to mind again. I welcome your thoughts if you would like to share.
    I have been in the yard this past week planting new plants that are blooming and now and will continue until frost on the bare spots under the trees. I am amazed at how their bright colors cheer me up when I walk by them and see them smiling at me. A few others have also told me that the flowers are a bright spot for them as they walk their dogs and one volunteered to water them and hinted that maybe we could separate some of her plants to plant them in other areas around her home :))
    Oh Jill, how shocking to hear of such an incident in your neighborhood. I am sure this was the last thing you expected to occur and thank you for speaking to the officers. I am also praying for you as you make decisions on treatments, upcoming procedures, and your friend who will be undergoing radiation treatments. A friend recently completed 5 weeks of radiation and one of the “invisible” side effects for her was tiredness. On the weeks she had 5 treatments, the weekend could not come soon enough for her to rest up. One the days she had 4 treatments it was much better. The good news was that when she was finished, she regained her strength rapidly and was not so tired within a few days.
    Julie, I “see” your compassion in your kind words and prayers to so many. And to your kitties, such gentleness and love. I pray that you and Megan are safe.
    Robert, so glad your procedure went well, that you are able to study with Zoom meetings, your train is coming together, and that you are enjoying great meals.
    Ally and David, I pray for continued help and healing as you navigate each day with its challenges. Our last sermon series was on hope and our new one is on Rising Strong. Each week I feel renewed by the words spoken and strive to apply to my life. I reflect on the songs that were chosen and how these tunes reinforce the presence of the compassionate companion Jesus is to me. I pray you may feel His presence beside you.
    For all UR Family who post or read or are caught up otherwise, I lift you up to our Heavenly Father and ask that He will Bless you. You are a beloved child of God.

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