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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.

 

Words of Hope During COVID-19

Kristen E. Vincent, author of We Are Beloved, talks about her practice of repeating a short phrase over and over to comfort herself and move from head to heart knowledge.


 

Today’s Reflection

If we want our lives to reflect God’s all-encompassing mercy, we must acknowledge our enemies and our actions toward them. If our actions have displayed a lack of kindness or understanding, we must admit wrongdoings. If our words and actions have displayed anger or hatred, we must consider how we can act out of mercy and love. For all of us, deepening our capacity to love our enemies is a lifelong journey.

—Anthony Egan, Trevor Hudson, and Russell Pollitt, Divine Friendship: Reflections for Lent (Upper Room Books, 2018)

Today’s Question

Who supports you in the lifelong journey of loving your enemies? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who harass you.
—Matthew 5:44 (CEB)

Prayer for the Week

May this Holy Week be one of challenge, growth, and an ever-deepening friendship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

Let us join in prayer together with this Holy Saturday Prayer.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

5 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted April 11, 2020 6:55 am

    Jesus taught and supports me in loving my enemies, In this tough medical and political time I find it hard to love those who I think are harming people by their actions, I wish them no harm, but hope love removes them from their positions. Jesus forgave those who crucified Him.

    After a deeply moving foot washing – Passover – Last Supper meal the evening stretched on with blood sweating prayer, arrest, spiteful appearances before Jewish religious and secular leaders , followed by Roman questioning and torture, Pontius Pilate gives in to the pleas of the people. Jesus is crucified,, dead, and buried. His followers are scattered, hurt, disillusioned, full of grief and questions. Those who put Jesus seemingly to death, feel vindicated, the case is closed. Holy Saturday is a sour-sweet day. Jesus is hard at work accomplishing the cup He was given. Thank You, Lord, for work You did.

  • Jill Posted April 11, 2020 7:25 am

    The Spirit works within me, continuing transformation – and pointing me towards forgiveness, kindness and love. This is not a place I can get to on my own. I must confess this, and ask for help.
    Grateful for the vast amount of resources, from churches locally and around the world, available to us on this Easter weekend. May we find comfort in our isolated aloneness, trusting God to meet the needs of family members we can’t be with. May He cushion worrisome thoughts and shelter us in Himself, while we shelter in place.

  • Julie Posted April 11, 2020 8:23 am

    Yes I must rely on the Lord for this as I am human and find it difficult to forgive my enemy as Jesus while hanging on the cross. What a powerful example He provided for us even as He was in such pain physically and spiritually.
    Prayers for all who come here to join together as Christ’s followers to reflect on the Friday so long ago and to long for the rejoicing of the Sunday still to come. May we learn for Him and from one another as we continue to learn a new manner of worshipping and fellowship.
    Prayers for safety and health for all. Prayers especially for Ally and David, may the Lord be with them both. May God hold each of us within the safety of His arms, sheltering us from harmful viruses, harmful thought and harful actions. May He guide those making decisions that affect magnitudes of people, May He guide each of us as we make decisions with ramifications to others.
    Prayers and thank you UR

  • Ally Posted April 11, 2020 9:06 am

    As I pondered the question of who helps me love my enemies, I realized that God used the stories of others who have modeled forgiveness and love in the presence of their enemies. The greatest of these is the example of Jesus, who forgave and loved in His suffering. By the Spirit, I am able do the same. Not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord. When I spoke to David’s nurse, she told me he is stable, vitals were good, and he did well with dialysis yesterday. He was using a little less oxygen. This is a long journey and I’m thanking God for the little victories. Thanks to all for your prayers. May we meditate on love for this Holy Saturday. Blessings.

  • Rick Posted April 11, 2020 9:25 pm

    My life today is a blessing, because of my past sufferings. I had such deep bitterness, anger and resentment, I was lost and living a delusional life deep in self pity and self loathing. When I hit my bottom feeling like a drowning man I cried out to God for help. He provided me with all the right tools to turn it around. He placed the right men and women in my life and I was able to turn things around. When I see myself today I don’t see that person I was. I am a man who has found peace and forgiveness and I know that I am a beloved son of the most high God. I walk with Christ by my side. Through all of this, it brought me back to my faith, restored my relationship with the UMC and I feel at home and loved. As I continue to grow in my faith and service to others, continuing to
    realize it is truly better to give then receive, I am finding a new fulfilling path through a deeper purpose given by God. As for God’s messengers The Upper Room Disciplines was the first book given to me on this journey back in 2009. It continues to guide me. I would also read the posts here for many years before ever posting, and this holds a special and profound meaning in my life today.

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