This month our theme is “Loving Our Neighbor.” Jesus says the Greatest Commandment – indeed, our purpose in life – is to love God with our entire being, and to love our neighbor as ourself. But this seems harder than usual during the presidential election season. People are divided by their politics, breeding suspicion and distance. And so I offer this devotion to help us consider how God calls us to love others, even when we disagree on who to vote for.

Prayer Bead Devotion

Cross: Loving God
Invitatory bead: who calls us into relationship
Resurrection bead: through your Son, Jesus Christ.
First cruciform bead: As the God of Deepest Love, you created us in your image.
Week beads, set 1: Use each bead to consider what it means to be created in the image of God, who is Perfect Love. What does that mean for you?
Second cruciform bead: You love us, and invite us to return that love with our whole being.
Week beads, set 2: Use each bead to consider how God calls us to love God with our entire being: heart, mind, soul, and body. How can you express that love?
Third cruciform bead: You created us to express our love for You through our relationships with others.
Week beads, set 3: Use each bead to reflect on how God calls you to love others. How can you express that love?
Fourth cruciform bead: Your capacity for love is greater than our capacity for conflict. Help us to live into your love when we find it difficult to love others.
Week beads, set 4: Use each bead to consider what it means that God’s love is greater than yours. How can you turn to and rely on God’s love to get you through times of conflict? How can you offer God’s love to others even when you are not feeling it?
Resurrection bead: In the name of your Son, Jesus Christ,
Invitatory bead: who modeled your love for us.
Cross: Amen

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Listening Focus (to be repeated with each bead): I offer God’s love to my neighbor

Daily Meditation