Verse of the day
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
– Matthew 5:16
Voice of the day
We must believe in our souls that we are somebody, that we are significant, that we are worthful, and we must walk the streets of life every day with this sense of dignity and this sense of somebody-ness.
– Colson Whitehead, “The Nickel Boys” (2019)
Prayer of the day
God who cannot help but see us in our entirety, lead us towards acknowledging the inherent worth in ourselves and in others.
“‘What is necessary?’ Baldwin responded, ‘Commitment. That is what is necessary. You either mean it or you don’t.’”
—Jamie McGhee & Adam Hollowell, You Mean It Or You Don’t: James Baldwin’s Radical Challenge Our Lift Every Voice Book Club selection for November & December
What are you committed to, and how does that commitment show up in your life?
View or listen to our conversation with the one of the authors, Jamie McGhee, here.
Jesus is able to move around in the most difficult situations, not only physically and emotionally, but spiritually. He can explore new ways of loving because he is rooted in God. He breaks right through routines when they become rigid and no longer serve God. He criticizes the Pharisees who were stuck in routines.
Jesus also warns people about living rootless lives. He says, “Remain in me as I remain in you. I love you with the same love that the Father loves me.” He is speaking about the inner connectedness of life. Life-giving connectedness is what allows Jesus to move out of the places of death toward life. The experience of joy that Jesus offers is not happiness. It is not just feeling “up.” Joy is something else. The joy of Jesus is never disconnected from sorrow.
Verse of the day
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
– Romans 15:13
Voice of the day
When I choose to see the good side of things, I’m not being naive. It is strategic and necessary. It is how I’ve learned to survive through everything.
– Waymond Wang, “Everything Everywhere All At Once” (2022)
Prayer of the day
God of hope, if we are tempted to fall too deeply into despondency, point us instead to examples of your goodness, so that we can carry on.
“What we choose to validate by how we respond to life witnesses to a particular way of being. That can support and reinforce others making similar choices. This is why community is so important for real spiritual growth and transformation.”
—Christine Valters Paintner, PhD, The Love of Thousands: How Angels, Saints, and Ancestors Walk with Us Toward Holiness
What do you find most challenging in striving to live with integrity in all kinds of situations?
A self-study retreat with additional resources is available here. Use code LOTH20 to take 20% off through November 30th.
The Spirit of God in us recognizes God in the world. The eyes and ears by which we see God in others are in fact spiritual sensitivities that allow us to receive our neighbors as messengers of God. Thus, to go to the poor is to go to the Lord.
“Compassion is not sentiment but is making justice and doing works of mercy. Compassion is not a moral commandment but a flow and overflow of the fullest human and divine energies.”—Matthew Fox
Verse of the day
If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food and one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,” and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that?
– James 2:15-16
Voice of the day
When people were hungry, Jesus didn’t say, “Now is that political or social?” He said, “I feed you.” Because the good news to a hungry person is bread.
– Desmond Tutu
Prayer of the day
God, in the face of forcibly withheld needs, nurture any outrage we may have into determination to mutually aid one another as witnesses of good news.
“Be an active participant in making the world less terrible.”—Blair Imani
“We believe . . . That nonviolent and reasonable measures are stronger than weapons.”—Thomas Merton, Peace in the Post-Christian Era
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