As we begin our Lenten journey, we are reminded of all that has brought us to where we are today: all the joys, the challenges, and, yes, the heartaches, too. Certainly, we can learn from those around us now, but as is the case in learning from people from scripture or history, it is learning about the journeys of those who have come before us that can be so enlightening. How did they navigate loss, or disappointment, or a wavering of their faith?
I would like to share a little about the writer of the text of a song that the parish choir will sing this Sunday during communion. Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676) was a German theologian, Lutheran minister and hymn writer. He lost both of his parents while a teenager, went on to become a Lutheran minister, and endured the Thirty Years’ War, along with many other challenges. He was a prolific writer of hymn texts, and we have four of those hymns in The Hymnal 1982. The choir will sing hymn 669 “Commit Thou All That Grieves Thee”. It is a beautiful text that reminds us to turn “all that grieves us” over to God. He is already aware of those things in our past that bring us pain. He is already aware that the suffering and injustice we and others endure weigh on our minds and hearts. We cannot hide this from him, no matter how much we try to convince other people(and ourselves). Below is the text of this wonderful hymn. May it remind us to let go of those things that would burden us on this Lenten journey.
Peace,
John
Commit Thou All That Grieves Thee
Commit thou all that grieves thee and fills thy heart with care to him whose faithful mercy the skies above declare, who gives the winds their courses, who points the clouds their way; ‘tis he will guide thy footsteps and be thy staff and stay.
O trust the Lord then wholly, if thou wouldst be secure; his work must thou consider for thy work to endure. What profit doth it bring thee to pine in grief and care? God ever sends his blessing in answer to thy prayer.
Thy lasting truth and mercy, O Father, see aright the needs of all thy children, their anguish or delight: what loving wisdom chooseth, redeeming might will do, and bring to sure fulfillment thy counsel good and true.
Hope on, then, broken spirit; hope on, be not afraid: fear not the griefs that plague thee and keep thy heart dismayed: thy God, in his great mercy, will save thee, hold thee fast, and in his own time grant thee the sun of joy at last.
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