Today's Reflection

WHEN YOU FIND yourself tempted to judge others, say a prayer of blessing for them. This morning as I took my sunrise walk on Craigsville Beach, I found a number of opportunities to bless my predawn morning companions! Tempted to judge the high school student who drove up with hip-hop music blasting, I chose to bless him and his day. Annoyed by the smoker who fowls the pristine morning air, I chose to wave “hello” and say a prayer of blessing.... I can assure you that life will give you plenty of opportunities to bless those who inspire judgment and alienation!

—Bruce G. Epperly, The Mystic in You: Discovering a God-Filled World (Upper Room Books, 2018)

Today's Question

Do you judge others more than you bless others?  

Today's Scripture

“But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
—Matthew 5:44 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

Peace Prayer of Saint Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace:
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room or share it in the comment section.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

• • Numbers 21:4b-9
  • Psalm 98:1-5
  • 1 Corinthians 1:18-24
  • John 3:13-17

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