Day 317 | Saturday, 30 January 2021

Day 317 - Audio Version

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Day 317 | Saturday, 30 January 2021

I want to share with you Psalm 145:1-12 and ask you to pay particular attention to verses 10 and 11.  These are the verses associated with the great hymn “All Creatures of our God and King”.         

I will lift you up high, my God, the true king. I will bless your name forever and always.
2 I will bless you every day.  I will praise your name forever and always.
3 The Lord is great and so worthy of praise!  God’s greatness can’t be grasped.
4 One generation will praise your works to the next one, proclaiming your mighty acts.
5 They will talk all about the glorious splendor of your majesty; I will contemplate your wondrous works.
6 They will speak of the power of your awesome deeds; I will declare your great accomplishments.
7 They will rave in celebration of your abundant goodness; they will shout joyfully about your righteousness:
8  “The Lord is merciful and compassionate, very patient, and full of faithful love.
9  The Lord is good to everyone and everything; God’s compassion extends to all his handiwork!”
10 All that you have made gives thanks to you, Lord; all your faithful ones bless you!
11 They speak of the glory of your kingdom; they talk all about your power,
12 to inform all human beings about God’s power and the majestic glory of God’s kingdom.

1.   “All creatures of our God and King, lift up your voice and with us sing, O praise ye! Alleluia!  O brother sun with golden beam, O sister moon with silver gleam! (Refrain)      O praise ye! O praise ye! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!”

2.   “O brother wind, air, clouds, and rain, by which all creatures ye sustain, O praise ye! Alleluia! Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice, ye lights of evening, find a voice!” (Refrain)

3.   “O sister water, flowing clear, make music for thy Lord to hear, Alleluia! Alleluia!  O brother fire who lights the night, providing warmth, enhancing sight, (Refrain)”

4.   “Dear mother earth, who day by day unfoldest blessings on our way, Alleluia! Alleluia! The flowers and fruits that in thee grow, let them God’s glory also show! (Refrain)”

5.   “All ye who are of tender heart, forgiving others, take your part, O praise ye! Alleluia! Ye who long pain and sorrow bear, praise God and on him cast your Care! (Refrain)”

6.   “And thou, our sister, gentle death, waiting to hush our latest breath, Alleluia! Alleluia! Thou leadest home the child of God, and Christ our Lord the way has trod, (Refrain)”
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7.   “Let all things their Creator bless, and worship him in humbleness, O praise ye! Alleluia! Praise, praise the Father, praise the Son, and praise the Spirit, Three in One! O praise ye! O praise ye! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!”

“This inspiring expression of praise found in nearly every hymnal was originally written in 1225 by one of the most interesting figures in all of church history.  Giovanni Bernardone, who was better known as Saint Francis of Assisi, was a mystic, medieval monk who spent his lifetime as an itinerant evangelist, preaching and helping the poor people of Italy.  St. Francis was known as a great lover of nature, seeing the hand of God in all creation.”               
                  
“This hymn is said to have been written one hot summer day in 1225, one year before his death, while Francis was very ill and suffering the loss of his eyesight.  This beautiful expression of praise is one of his hymns that has survived the passing of several hundred years.  The English translation of this text was made by William Draper, a village rector in England.”

Lord, our God, thank you for your servants from the past like St. Francis, who have given us words that are an inspiration to this day.  We offer our praise to you, always.  Amen.