The words within the music

Have you ever been listening to a well-loved song and had the lyrics suddenly become very clear, and thus make a whole lot more sense? Over the years I have come to find that my favorite music, both secular and religious, affects me more because the lyrics come to seem more a poem set to music, rather than simply a melody with words thrown in. I thought of a parallel that works when thinking about reading the Bible: the Bible itself is the melody, but to have it really sink in, it helps to slow down and really listen to the words. This is what we do on Sundays, when we listen to the first and second readings and the Gospel. The sermon helps those readings - the lyrics, so to speak - sink in as it expands on the readings' messages. I hope reading these lyrics will help you, as it helps me, to slow down and listen to God's message.

The song today is from a hymnal we happen to have at home, called the "Pilgrim Hymnal", and it is one that used to be used by the church B. attended as he grew up and where we were married.

"There's a Wideness in God's Mercy" Frederick Faber, 1814-1863 [First Tune]
There's a wideness in God's mercy, like the wideness of the sea;
There's a kindness in His justice, Which is more than liberty.
There is no place where earth's sorrows Are more felt than up in heaven;
There is no place where earth's failings Have such kindly judgement given.

For the love of God is broader Than the measure of man's mind;
And the heart of the Eternal Is most wonderfully kind.
If our love were but more simple, We should take Him at His word;
And our lives would be all sunshine In the sweetness of our Lord. Amen.

Have a peaceful weekend,
Jen