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Day 377 | Wednesday, 31 March 2021
“Loving God, walk with us on the road to Calvary. Hold us close so we might see your love in the midst of the twists and turns. Let us see how the palms of honor and the shouts of praise get dried and twisted into cries for a crucifixion. Let us feel the bumps of denial, the rocks of betrayal and the dark night of prayer. Let us feel the heavy weight of the cross and know Christ carried it for us. Holy God, place us in the story so we might see our weakness but learn of your grace. Take us through the twists and turns on the road to Calvary and lead us to the glory of Easter. Amen.” On this day of Holy Week I lift up the warning parables in Matthew 24:45-25:46. “Wise servants are those who fulfill their duties in preparation for their master’s unexpected return. Christians are to be faithfully working at the Lord’s business while Jesus is away; this is the business of 25:34-40. We read the parable of the ten young bridesmaids, five who were wise and five who were foolish. It ends with the reminder to keep alert. This is followed by the parable of the valuable coins. The chapter concludes with a judgement which contains the familiar words in verse 45: “I assure you that when you haven’t done it for one of the least of these, you haven’t done it for me.” Chapter 26 begins with the plotting to kill Jesus, which has been the desire of the temple priests since Jesus arrived in Jerusalem. 3 Then the chief priests and elders of the people gathered in the courtyard of Caiaphas the high priest. 4 They were plotting to arrest Jesus by cunning tricks and to kill him. They did agree that it should not be done at Passover. “Passover is a yearly festival to remember and celebrate God’s liberation of Israel from Egypt.” Next, we read of the anointing of Jesus with very expensive perfume. Once again, the disciples do not understand what is happening and claim that this is a waste. 8 When the disciples saw what was happening, they were furious. "That's criminal! 9 This could have been sold for a lot and the money handed out to the poor." 10 When Jesus realized what was going on, he intervened. "Why are you giving this woman a hard time? She has just done something wonderfully significant for me. 11 You will have the poor with you every day for the rest of your lives, but not me. 12 When she poured this perfume on my body, what she really did was anoint me for burial.” “Anointing the head is an act reserved for priests or kings. This act is symbolic preparation for burial. In Matthew, this woman’s act of faithfulness begins the preparation for Jesus’ death, and it is women to whom the risen Christ first appears.” I want to conclude today’s journey with Judas. 14 That is when one of the Twelve, the one named Judas Iscariot, went to the cabal of high priests 15 and said, "What will you give me if I hand him over to you?" They settled on thirty silver pieces. 16 He began looking for just the right moment to hand him over. “We know Easter is coming, but we pray, loving God, that you would hold us on the path of small steps. Take us slowly through this week so we may truly feel, clearly see and tenderly know the depths of your love, which you shared with us in the life of Jesus. Let us take a small step to see our own denials - especially the denial of our own self-worth. Let us take a small step to face our own fears and angers - fear that we will be left alone, anger that erupts like Peter's sword. Let us take a small step on the path to encounter our betrayals - especially of those we love and care for most. Loving God, walk us through pain and searching, be with us through doubt and despair, and lead us to the joy of Easter. In Jesus name Amen”
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Day 376 | Tuesday, 30 March 2021
“Holy God, walk with us this week, take us deep into the events of Jesus' life and reveal to us our own complicity in the trials and betrayals of life. Help us not only to examine our fears that lead to tragic actions but also to look at the unworthy places we put our hope. Ultimately, God, draw us closer to you, to know the mystery of your love that overcomes darkness and death and to feel Easter rise in us like the morning sun. Holy God, stay with us. Amen.” Continuing our journey through this Holy week, I will pick up on the passion story as told in Matthew. The Pharisees continue testing Jesus. 22:35 One of their religion scholars spoke for them, posing a question they hoped would show him up: 36 "Teacher, which command in God's Law is the most important?" 37 Jesus said, "'Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.' 38 This is the most important, the first on any list. 39 But there is a second to set alongside it: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' 40 These two commands are pegs; everything in God's Law and the Prophets hangs from them." Who were the Pharisees – “Pharisee a member of a Jewish sect that flourished during the 1st century b.c. and 1st century a.d. and that differed from the Sadducees chiefly in its strict observance of religious ceremonies and practices, adherence to oral laws and traditions, and belief in an afterlife and the coming of a Messiah.” A modern day Pharisee is a sanctimonious, self-righteous, or hypocritical person. “In first-century Israel, Sadducees were a religious faction that wielded societal power in nearly every aspect. These men hated Jesus and were the Jewish aristocrats of their day, known as much for their wealth and corruption as for their religious devotion.” “A member of a Jewish sect or party of the time of Jesus Christ that denied the resurrection of the dead, the existence of spirits, and the obligation of oral tradition, emphasizing acceptance of the written Law alone.” In Matthew 23, Jesus condemns these legal experts. Several times Matthew repeats the verse “How terrible it will be for you, legal experts and Pharisees! Hypocrites!” Jesus knew that these people did not have the best interest of the people in mind. I suppose that we might compare them today to politicians who think only of themselves and have the idea of “What’s in it for me?” Or, to keep it in the religious world, we might compare the far right and the far left to the Pharisees and Sadducees because of the lack of open mindedness and flexibility. Jesus literally cries over what has happened to Jerusalem, as the chapter ends. Chapter 24 continues with Jesus’ prophetic critique. While sitting on the Mount of Olives with his disciples, he issues a warning about 11: “Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.” V 24: “False christs and false prophets will appear, and they will offer great signs and wonders in order to deceive, if possible, even those whom God has chosen.” In this chapter we hear the admonition v 42: “Therefore, stay alert! You don’t know what day the Lord is coming.” V 44: “Therefore, you also should be prepared, because the Human One will come at a time you don’t know.” “Loving God, hold us close so we may look at the depths of our souls and the agony of your Son and not turn away. Let the awareness of our own denials and betrayals lead us to the throne of mercy, where living water washes away our grief and fills us with abundant new life. Holy God, open our hearts and minds to your confronting and healing Word. Bring us through this week to the glory of Easter and a risen Lord. Amen Day 375 | Monday, 29 March 2021
Yesterday I indicated that the Passion narrative from Matthew begins at Matthew 21:1 and continues thru Matthew 27:66. There is a great quantity of material in these chapters to review during this week. I will lift up some of the material and encourage you to read through the Passion Narrative. According to Matthew’s version, Jesus goes into the temple after making his entry into Jerusalem. (Mt. 21:12-17) “The temple is the symbolic and religious center of Judaism. Those ‘selling or buying’ and those involved in the ‘currency exchange’ were merchants practicing normal trade transactions for sojourners arriving in Jerusalem without proper sacrifices or coinage. Doves were sacrifices bought and used by the poor.” Jesus was not happy with the temple being used for profit making. This is one occasion where we see Jesus with a temper. He reminded those present that “My house will be called a house of prayer.” Only Matthew records Jesus’ healing of the ‘blind and lame’ to continue the healing ministry. The next day, Jesus returns after spending the night in Bethany. First, he curses a fig tree which was symbolic of the people of Israel. Here we read the verse If you have faith, you will receive whatever your pray for. The temple leadership confronts Jesus about his authority, but he returns with a question of his own which they do not answer. Because they do not answer, neither does Jesus. Jesus follows this exchange with the Parable of two sons, the parable of the tenant farmers and the parable of the wedding party – where “Many people are invited, but few are chosen.” This is a week when the Pharisees and Sadducees try very hard to catch Jesus off guard so that they might challenge who he is and bring charges against him. In the next section of chapter 22 in Matthew, the trap against Jesus centers around taxes. 17 So tell us honestly: Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" 18 Jesus knew they were up to no good. He said, "Why are you playing these games with me? Why are you trying to trap me? 19 Do you have a coin? Let me see it." They handed him a silver piece. 20 "This engraving - who does it look like? And whose name is on it?" 21 They said, "Caesar." "Then give Caesar what is his, and give God what is his." 22 The Pharisees were speechless. The plan didn’t work the way they had hoped. The next plot is to trick him about the resurrection. 30At the resurrection we're beyond marriage. As with the angels, all our ecstasies and intimacies then will be with God. 31 And regarding your speculation on whether the dead are raised or not, don't you read your Bibles? The grammar is clear: God says, 32 'I am - not was - the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.' The living God defines himself not as the God of dead men, but of the living." A Prayer of Confession for Holy Week “Hold us close, patient God, for we know how hard this week can be. We see our own failures mirrored in the Passion story. We know we betray the trust given to us. We let our children down. We avoid the eyes of the homeless. We treat your creation with indifference and abuse. We deny your love by covering up our talents, hiding behind low self-esteem, looking to others to lead the way. We are frightened by the costliness of following you and fear that we will be found fleeing the scene or joining in with the accusing crowd. Loving God, hold us close so we may move through the shadows, confront the darkness and rejoice in the surprising triumph of your stronger-than-death love. Through Jesus, we pray. Amen.”  Day 374 | Sunday, 28 March 2021 – PALM SUNDAY
The assigned Scripture readings for Palm Sunday are: Liturgy of the Palms: Matthew 21:1-11; Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29. Liturgy of the Passion: Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Matthew 26:14-27:66 or Matthew 27:11-54. I will be sharing the Liturgy of the Palms today with the intention of following the Liturgy of the Passion throughout the week. Matthew 21:1-11 Entry into Jerusalem CEB 21 When they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus gave two disciples a task. 2 He said to them, “Go into the village over there. As soon as you enter, you will find a donkey tied up and a colt with it. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that their master needs them.” He sent them off right away. 4 Now this happened to fulfill what the prophet said, 5 Say to Daughter Zion, “Look, your king is coming to you, humble and riding on a donkey, and on a colt the donkey’s offspring.” 6 The disciples went and did just as Jesus had ordered them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and laid their clothes on them. Then he sat on them.8 Now a large crowd spread their clothes on the road. Others cut palm branches off the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds in front of him and behind him shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna, in the highest!” 10 And when Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up. “Who is this?” they asked. 11 The crowds answered, “It’s the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.” “Jerusalem was the central city of first century Judaism. Bethpage is a couple miles outside of Jerusalem. Locating a donkey and a colt is unique to Matthew; the other Gospels mention only one animal. In addition to the disciples, the crowds also have some awareness of this royal occasion, as they spread out “clothes” and “palm branches” and shout songs of praise; “Hosanna” literally means “save (us) now” and is a reference to God’s deliverance over enemies. The “son of David” title is repeated throughout Matthew. Jesus has also been referred to as a “prophet”.” CEB – p 1234 “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna” words: Jeanette Threlfall, 1873 1. Hosanna, loud hosanna, the little children sang, through pillared court and temple the lovely anthem rang. To Jesus, who had blessed them close folded to his breast, the children sang their praises, the simplest and the best. 2. From Olivet they followed mid an exultant crowd, the victor palm branch waving, and chanting clear and loud. The Lord of earth and heaven rode on in lowly state, nor scorned that little children should on his bidding wait. 3. "Hosanna in the highest!" that ancient song we sing, for Christ is our Redeemer, the Lord of heaven our King. O may we ever praise him with heart and life and voice, and in his blissful presence eternally rejoice! A Prayer for Palm/Passion Sunday “God of all life, loud hosannas and thundering earthquakes, children's laughter and disciples' tears, journey with us this week into the depths of this final drama, where we watch ourselves in the faces of the crowd and see how costly is Christ's love for us. God of all life, journey with us toward Easter, toward the light that overcomes darkness, toward the love that overcomes death. God of all life, hold those we love whose future feels like the darkness of Good Friday, and whose Easter has not dawned. Amen.” Day 373 | Saturday, 27 March 2021
The weather of this past week has really made things pop open in a wonderful Spring fashion. Around our home we have mini daffodils in full bloom, snow drops which have been opened for over a week, hyacinths, our Lenten Rose is open and crocus are popping up in the front yard. The maple trees in the back and fully budded. Robins are around the yards and the Red Winged Black Birds are singing to one another. Other varieties of birds frequent our feeders as does our neighborhood squirrel. The pesky flock of starlings makes frequent stops as well. Spring is always a welcome season as we watch the earth come back to life. As I am appreciating the joy of seeing the spring flowers around the house on this day before Palm Sunday, I am reminded that Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy Week. Holy Week is a week of darkness for we Christians. I intend to take us through the week, a week of passion, by paying attention to what was going on in Jesus’ ministry and life. All too often, worshipers go from the celebration of Palm Sunday to the Joy of Easter Sunday without taking time to focus on the events of the week. Let me spread the Palm Sunday event out to a couple days by sharing the scripture from John 12:12-15 today from the Message. 12 The next day the huge crowd that had arrived for the Feast heard that Jesus was entering Jerusalem. 13 They broke off palm branches and went out to meet him. And they cheered: Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in God's name! Yes! The King of Israel! 14 Jesus got a young donkey and rode it, just as the Scripture has it: 15 No fear, Daughter Zion: See how your king comes, riding a donkey's colt. One of the Palm Sunday Hymns is “All Glory, Laud and Honor” words: Theodulph of Orleans 8-9th century; trans. By John Mason Neale, 1851. REFRAIN: All glory, laud, and honor, to thee, Redeemer, King, to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring. Thou art the King of Israel, thou David's royal Son, who in the Lord's name comest, the King and Blessed One. All glory, laud, and honor, to thee, Redeemer, King, to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring. The company of angels are praising Thee on high, and we with all creation in chorus make reply. All glory, laud, and honor, to thee, Redeemer, King, to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring. The people of the Hebrews with palms before Thee went; our prayers and praise and anthems before Thee we present. All glory, laud, and honor, to thee, Redeemer, King, to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring. To Thee, before thy passion, they sang their hymns of praise; to thee, now high exalted, our melody we raise. All glory, laud, and honor, to thee, Redeemer, King, to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring. Thou didst accept their praises; accept the prayers we bring, who in all good de-light-est, thou good and gracious King. All glory, laud, and honor, to thee, Redeemer, King, to whom the lips of children made sweet hosannas ring. Almighty God, as we prepare ourselves for the observance of Palm Sunday, guide our thoughts and prayers towards obedience to your will for us at this time in our lives. We come to this Holy Season appreciating the new life we witness in the earth. We give thanks for the colors of spring flowers and the joy with which our hearts are filled. Help us pause to reflect on the journey Jesus will make during this week. Lord, Hear our prayers. Amen. Day 372 | Friday, 26 March 2021
As we draw closer to holy week, I thought I would share another Hymn from the theme Passion and death. This one is “In the Cross of Christ I Glory”. There are a couple Scripture references for this hymn written by John Bowring in 1825 and music by Ithamar Conkey in 1849. One reference is Galatians 6:14. 14 But as for me, God forbid that I should boast about anything except for the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through him, and I have been crucified to the world. The second is 1 Corinthians 1:18: 18 The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are being destroyed. But it is the power of God for those of us who are being saved. 1 In the cross of Christ I glory, towering o'er the wrecks of time; all the light of sacred story gathers round its head sublime. 2 When the woes of life o'ertake me, hopes deceive, and fears annoy, never shall the cross forsake me. Lo! it glows with peace and joy. 3 When the sun of bliss is beaming light and love upon my way, from the cross the radiance streaming adds more luster to the day. 4 Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure, by the cross are sanctified; peace is there that knows no measure, joys that through all time abide. 5 In the cross of Christ I glory, towering o'er the wrecks of time; all the light of sacred story gathers round its head sublime. “There are intriguing stories about the writers of both the lyrics and the melody of this old hymn. It is said, but not confirmed, that Englishman John Bowring was inspired to write the words when he observed a destroyed cathedral in Macao, Hong Kong area, where he was at one time the governor. Only the front wall was still standing, topped by a large metal cross, blackened with age. This is similar to the finding of a cross-shaped metal beam in the ruins of the World Trade Centre, which people used as a makeshift place of worship.” “The story behind the composition of the melody, named Rathbun , has been verified. Ithamar Conkey was the organist at Central Baptist Church in Norwich, Connecticut, in 1849. The pastor had been preaching a series of sermons on the seven last words of Jesus on the cross. One rainy Sunday, only one choir member arrived, much to Conkey’s disappointment. He was so keenly discouraged that after he had played the prelude, he closed the organ and went home, unnoticed by the congregation. Sitting at his piano, he contemplated the pastor’s sermons as well as the words of the above hymn. He then composed what was a new tune, and called it Rathbun . The reason for this title? The name of the only loyal choir member who had shown up that Sunday was Beriah S. Rathbun!” “The cross has been the most significant symbol of the Christian faith throughout church history. It is said that as many as 400 different forms or designs of it have been used – the usual Latin Cross, the Greek Cross (all parts of the cross of equal length), the Budded Cross (each arm with three buds representing the Trinity), etc. Regardless of the design, the symbol of the cross should always remind us of the price that was paid by the eternal God for human redemption.” Today: what does the symbol of the cross mean to you? Do you have a favorite cross? Day 371 | Thursday, 25 March 2021
As we draw closer to Palm Sunday, I was reviewing the Gospels as to what each had to say about the days prior to Jesus’ entry into the city of Jerusalem. This was the last journey Jesus would make with his disciples to the city. We find that in Matthew and Mark Jesus predicts his death and resurrection. Matthew 20:17-19 Jesus predicts his death and resurrection 17 As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the Twelve aside by themselves on the road. He told them, 18 “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem. The Human One will be handed over to the chief priests and legal experts. They will condemn him to death. 19 They will hand him over to the Gentiles to be ridiculed, tortured, and crucified. But he will be raised on the third day.” Mark 10:32-34 Jesus predicts his death and resurrection 32 Jesus and his disciples were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, with Jesus in the lead. The disciples were amazed while the others following behind were afraid. Taking the Twelve aside again, he told them what was about to happen to him. 33 “Look!” he said. “We’re going up to Jerusalem. The Human One will be handed over to the chief priests and the legal experts. They will condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles. 34 They will ridicule him, spit on him, torture him, and kill him. After three days, he will rise up.” In the Gospel of John, a prophesy comes from Caiaphas: John 11:47-53 47 Then the chief priests and Pharisees called together the council and said, “What are we going to do? This man is doing many miraculous signs! 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him. Then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our people.”49 One of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, told them, “You don’t know anything! 50 You don’t see that it is better for you that one man die for the people rather than the whole nation be destroyed.” 51 He didn’t say this on his own. As high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus would soon die for the nation— 52 and not only for the nation. Jesus would also die so that God’s children scattered everywhere would be gathered together as one. 53 From that day on they plotted to kill him. “It’s time to get moving. Jesus is heading with his disciples to Jerusalem and the cross. And he is out ahead of them. “That is, always the way it is. Jesus is out ahead, leading the way. He beckons us to the cross – down the peculiar road of the kingdom where you give up all claims to having defined or established yourself on your own – but he always leads the way. He will not ask us to go somewhere he has not already been, and he will not abandon us to go anywhere difficult without him. Indeed, the whole of the Christian life, promise, and hope might be summed up by saying that “Wherever we may be, Jesus has already been; and where is now, we will someday be.” “Mark describes some of those who follow as amazed others as afraid. Or perhaps many are some of both. Do they sense what is coming? “Jesus is leading, but the road is still difficult. Moreover, almost every element of our culture counsels us against it. Deny one’s self? Put others first? Be dependent on grace, mercy, and forgiveness? Extend the same to others when they appear to have done you wrong? Risk suffering rather than embrace security? Madness. “The madness of the kingdom. And so, Jesus goes ahead. “If we find it difficult, we may take some comfort in discovering that Jesus’ first disciples found it no easier to follow than his latest. And so, Jesus tells them what will happen. And they don’t believe. So, he tells them again, and they don’t want to believe. And so, he tells them yet a third time, here, on the road to Jerusalem. And they just can’t believe what they hear. And so, he goes on ahead. He always will, leading us to the place we cannot go on our own, to bring us through death into life.” Prayer: Dear God, help us to follow. In Jesus’ name, Amen. PS - if any of you in WNY who receive this are on Spectrum cable, watch the news channel this morning to see an interview with the Shepherd and Mouse. This morning only. Day 370 | Wednesday, 24 March 2021
As of March 22nd, the total number of cases in the county were 8,019 with 173 still active, 425 in isolation and 141 deaths. There have been 2,118 cases in the 14701 zip, 306 in Lakewood, 278 in Bemus, 251 in Frewsburg, 932 in Fredonia and 1,462 in Dunkirk. To see the numbers for the whole county, go to the county website and look for the map. Our journey through Lent is winding down toward Holy Week. A Beginning: “Walking on the path, following Jesus. Sometimes there is joy in our step. Sometimes we are not so sure – what may lie ahead? Hosannas or angry crowds? A prayerful garden or a stark cross? A holy meal or an empty place at the table? Journeying through Lent, please walk with us, Jesus.” A Prayer of Confession “Awesome and challenging God hold us close for this moment, so that with your support we might look deep within and let your healing light purify our darkness. Only in your grasp can we face our struggles - our frantic pursuit of busyness; the ease with which we tolerate the troubles and inequities of our divided society; the acceptance of bottom-line thinking as the final word; the fear of differences that keeps us from receiving gifts of others; our reluctance to get involved. Holy and disturbing God keep us close to the cross and let us experience your transforming love that turned a sorrowful Friday into an Easter hope. Renew our hearts, refashion our lives, and revive our spirits. Amen.” A Lenten Prayer “Creator and Father God: In this penitential season, we acknowledge with respect the traditional discipline of fasting. By fasting, our forbears in the faith strove to become more deeply, more tangibly aware of our Lord’s suffering. Some of them, we recall, went to great, perhaps excessive lengths during these 40 days of Lent, half-starving themselves in order more vividly to experience the hunger and thirst which plagued him on the cross. Whether we fast or not, O God, we would remember with sorrow what our Lord endured at the hands of people very much like us. But we would also be reminded, by the ancient discipline of fasting, that we have too much and that we can do with a lot less. Our nation outranks all others in per capita consumption. Our caloric intake far exceeds that of even moderately well-off peoples. Our garbage disposals eat as much as many third World families. Gracious God help us to use this season as an opportunity to challenge critically our own lifestyles. Help us to review our alleged needs. Show us how to control our clamorous wants. And give us courage to share more of what we have with others who have so much less – in the name of our merciful Lord, who did not need to be reminded of people in need, because he spent his life sharing himself with them. Amen” Holy God, as we approach Palm Sunday, may we reflect on what our 2021 journey through Lent has meant to each one of us. Because of a pandemic, Lent last year and this year have been different. Continue the journey with us these last days. Prepare us for the darkness of Holy Week and the joy of Easter morning. Lord, Hear our prayers. Amen Today: Prayers for the people of Boulder, Colorado who are grieving with heavy hearts. Also for the families who weere displaced due to the fire in the city yesterday morning. Day 369 | Tuesday, 23 March 2021
One of the hymns that appears under the theme of Passion and Death is “What Wondrous Love Is This.” 1 What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul? What wondrous love is this, O my soul? What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss to bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul, to bear the dreadful curse for my soul? 2 When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down, when I was sinking down, sinking down, when I was sinking down beneath God’s righteous frown, Christ laid aside his crown for my soul, for my soul, Christ laid aside his crown for my soul. (An amended stanza 2 which is more familiar is: What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul? What wondrous love is this, O my soul? What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of life to lay aside his crown for my soul, for my soul, to lay aside his crown for my soul.) 3 To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing, to God and to the Lamb I will sing, to God and to the Lamb who is the great I Am, while millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing, while millions join the theme, I will sing. 4 And when from death I’m free I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on, and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be, and through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on, and through eternity I’ll sing on. “We have few clues as to the author and composer of this profound hymn of wonder at the love of Christ for all humanity.” “Thanks to the careful work of scholars, we do have some suggestions about the origins of this hymn. The text appeared as early as 1811 in a collection by Stith Mead titled General Selection of the Newest and Most Admired Hymns and Spiritual Songs Now in Use (second enlarged edition). William J. Reynolds traced a variant of this text to Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Original and Selected by Starke Dupuy, also published in 1811.” "What Wondrous Love Is This" captures our attention right from the beginning with its simplicity and persistence – "What wondrous love is this" sung three times. This repetition is not the sign of a weak poet who has a narrow range of expression, but a fellow traveler who has experienced profoundly the sacrificial love of Christ and can only express again and again – "What wondrous love is this." It is the kind of repetition that sounds trite when spoken yet gains strength and power through singing. These are not the carefully crafted words of a theologian, but utterances directly from the heart or, even more profoundly, from the soul.” “Depending on how one reads the stanza, the entire first stanza is either a statement of pure awe or a profound question. This rhetorical device – the ambiguity of a statement of awe or profound question – is reminiscent of Charles Wesley's "And Can It Be". The first stanza of that hymn ends, "Amazing love! How can it be/that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?"” Holy God, as we continue our Lenten journey, we do think about this wondrous love of Jesus who did lay aside who he was for us and our salvation. Thank you, God, for your wondrous love for each one of us. Lord, hear our prayers, Amen. Day 368 | Monday, 22 March 2021 From the Church Mouse “Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the faithful” - Psalm 149: 1 (NRSV) Back in 1992 when I was teaching adult classes at Fredonia First UMC, I was partial to teaching materials from Church Alive from Abingdon Press. My students liked the lessons because they explained, in common language, a variety of “church words’ that were sometimes unclear to them. Today I will share with you Adoration (Praise) with the help of Rev. Dr. John C. Cooper. The word adoration sounds rather old-fashioned to us today. It is seldom used except perhaps in romantic novels. The word praise is generally used in church circles to refer to worship. We offer God thanks and praise in our hymns, in the reading of psalms, in prayer, and in our offerings for the work of the church. Rarely do we use the word adoration unless we are reading or singing texts written in the distant past. Adoration is from the Latin word adorare, meaning to worship. It describes the actions involved in worshiping God and to the homage done in the deepest reverence. To adore means to love deeply, to have the highest esteem, affection, and respect. Praise comes from the Latin pretium which means price. Originally, it meant to set a price on or to appraise. The Old Testament uses the word praise 177 times, and the New Testament uses it 23 times. The Psalms account for the majority of the Old Testament usage. Praise is clearly a major issue in the Old Testament however the word adoration never occurs as the translation of any Hebrew word in the Old Testament. Praise is active, adoration may be passive. The Old Testament, or the Hebrew Bible, may prefer action. In the New Testament, praise as an energetic, joyful, grateful series of actions, becomes the Christian’s response to God. This now makes sense to us in our day. The concept of response is vital. You can love and adore someone from a distance, in complete silence, without action. This is not what the Bible has in mind when it speaks of the mighty acts of a loving and gracious God. In the face of such pure grace only an active response of the whole person is appropriate. Rather than a quiet love, we should think in terms of David dancing before the Ark of the Covenant, the worshipers in the temple singing praises, and the disciples shouting and speaking so that people thought they were drunk. Our stress in all the work we do at Christ First UMC should show our joy, our gratitude and our adoration and praise….the active response of the whole person.  |
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