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LORD WHOSE LOVE IN
HUMBLE SERVICE
Lord, whose love in
humble service bore the weight of human need,
who upon the cross,
forsaken, worked your mercy’s perfect deed:
we, your servants,
bring the worship not of voice alone, but heart;
consecrating to
your purpose ev’ry gift which you impart.
Still your children
wander homeless; still the hungry cry for bread;
still the captives
long for freedom; still in grief we mourn our dead.
As you, Lord, in
deep compassion healed the sick and freed the soul,
by your Spirit send
your power to our world to make it whole.
As we worship,
grant us vision, till your love’s revealing light
in its height and
depth and greatness dawns upon our quickened sight,
making known the
needs and burdens your compassion bids us bear,
stirring us to
ardent service, your abundant life to share.
Called by worship
to your service, forth in your dear name we go,
to the child, the
youth, the aged, love in living deeds to show;
hope and health,
good will and comfort, counsel, aid, and peace we give,
that your servants,
Lord, in freedom may your mercy know and live.
Text: Albert F.
Bayley, 1901-1984. Used by permission. © 1961 Oxford University
Press
Maundy Thursday.
The Last Supper. Jesus was together with his disciples in fellowship
and friendship, Passover tradition and remembrance, covenant and
commitment, closeness and caring, danger and betrayal. We join him
and them, this Holy Thursday.
The Gospels of
Matthew, Mark and Luke, and Paul (1 Corinthians 11) offer accounts
of Jesus giving himself in the bread and wine of the first Holy
Communion: “This is my body... This is my blood...” He becomes part
of us, and we part of him, one body. That is meaningful to me for
living each day with hope, forgiveness, comfort and peace.
There is more. In
John’s Gospel, Jesus kneels and washes the dirty feet of his
disciples, a humble servant’s task. He said, “Unless I wash you, you
have no share with me.” (John 13:8) In acts of simple caring, we
become part of him, and he of us. I imagine him washing and
embracing me. Jesus reveals his new commandment: “Just as I have
loved you, you also should love one another.” (John 13:34) I
experience his caring today through you.
That inspires and
moves me to try to serve in useful ways. Jesus encourages us all to
be as Christ to one another. We worshipers gather at the holy table
and move out into the hungry, hurting, hoping world with God’s gifts
of life and grace. There are holy, humble moments in our everyday
work, aspirations, decisions and relationships: our everyday
communion with the world around us. This hymn sings it well.
Gracious God, thank
you for coming to us in Jesus Christ, in his holy supper and in his
servants who share your caring love. May we carry your love into our
world today.
The Rev. Sally
Fahrenthold, retired
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