brokenness

Opening Prayer: Lord God, our Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of Jesus, your beloved Son, with whom you are well pleased.  Thank you for his life and his death.  Thank you for his heart of love and mercy that will not break the bruised reed or quench the smoldering wick.  Thank you that in him we have hope.  Amen.

Scripture: Matthew 12:15-23

Journal: How are you feeling like a bruised reed or smoldering wick these days?  Where in your life are you feeling fragile and bruised?  How does Jesus offer you hope and healing today?  How does he want you to offer hope and healing to the bruised and the fragile around you?

Reflection: How can we live our brokenness?  Jesus invites us to embrace our brokenness as he embraced the cross and live it as a part of our mission.  He asks us not to reject our brokenness as a curse from God that reminds us of our sinfulness but to accept it and put it under God’s blessing for our purification and sanctification.  Thus, our brokenness can become a gateway to new life. (Bread for the Journey by Henri J. M. Nouwen)

Prayer

Closing Prayer: Lord Jesus, open our eyes to the bruised and the fragile among us and around us this day.  Help us to care for them as you would.  Help us to offer them the hope that we have in you.  Amen.