Day 328 | Wednesday, 10 February 2021 Today I am sharing “Be Not Afraid” which is Karen Peterson’s favorite hymn. I thank Karen for sharing this with us. The words are very powerful and bring us reassurance. Read these words prayerfully. Isaiah 43:2-3 CEB 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; when through the rivers, they won’t sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you won’t be scorched and flame won’t burn you. 3 I am the Lord your God, the holy one of Israel, your savior. I have given Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in your place. Luke 6:20 NRSV 20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: "Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Be Not Afraid Isaiah 43:2-3, Luke 6:20 Bob Dufford You shall cross the barren desert But you shall not die of thirst You shall wander far in safety Though you do not know the way You shall speak your words to foreign men And they will understand You shall see the face of God and live Be not afraid I go before you always Come, follow me and I will give you rest If you pass through raging waters in the sea You shall not drown If you walk amid the burning flames You shall not be harmed If you stand before the power of hell And death is at your side Know that I am with you through it all Be not afraid I go before you always Come, follow me and I will give you rest And blessed are your poor For the kingdom shall be theirs Blest are you that weep and mourn For one day you shall laugh And if wicked men insult and hate you All because of me Blessed, blessed are you Be not afraid I go before you always Come, follow me and I will give you rest Bob Dufford, SJ
Jesuit Father Bob Dufford is an internationally acclaimed composer of liturgical music. He is best known as a member of the St. Louis Jesuits and the writer of “Be Not Afraid.” As a young Jesuit novice and seminarian in the early 1970s, he began collaborating with fellow novices and seminarians John Foley, Tim Manion, Roc O'Connor and Dan Schutte to write simple, guitar-based songs for liturgy in the St. Louis University chapel. They were responding to the needs of worshipping communities, which, after the Second Vatican Council, lacked liturgical music in the vernacular to enable the full participation of the faithful. Father Dufford is the composer of “Be Not Afraid,” one of the most beloved worship songs of our time, appearing in the hymnals of every Christian denomination. Based on Isaiah 43:2–3 and Luke 6:20, the 1975 composition has comforted troubled hearts for more than forty years. Other well-known songs include “Sing to the Mountains,” “Like a Shepherd,” “Let Heaven Rejoice,” “All the Ends of the Earth,” “Behold the Lamb of God,” “Every Valley” and “Save Us, O Lord.” After his years with the St. Louis Jesuits, he released two solo collections based on the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius: From East and West, which follows the first half of the exercises, and The Reign of God, covering the second half. Formerly a campus minister at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, Father Dufford recently served at the Jesuit Retreat House in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Lord God, we thank you for inspiring people like Father Bob Dufford and giving him the talent to compose meaningful music that reaches in and touches our hearts. Continue to inspire others to use their talents to give us music and words that inspire out souls. Lord, hear our prayers. Today: modern hymn writers.
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