It's still Easter!

 

A funny fellow asks a friend, "What's the shortest length of time?" "One second," the friend answers. "No," the funny guy says, "The space between when the traffic light turns green and the horn behind you honks." We understand. But it's pretty pathetic too. 

At Easter, the Church is out of step with this impatient culture. Easter has an octave — too much to say and celebrate for one Sunday, so it overflows into eight days —  then a further overflow to fifty. Here's a lovely, Eastern liturgical hymn which imagines an Easter morning angel announcing to the Mother of Jesus that her Son is risen from the dead.

The angel cried to the Lady full of grace:

 Rejoice, O Pure Virgin!

Again I say:

Rejoice! Your Son is risen from his three days in the tomb!

 With Himself He has raised all the dead!

Rejoice, all you people!

Shine! Shine! O New Jerusalem!

The glory of the Lord has shown on you!

Dance now and be glad, O Zion!

Be radiant, O Pure Theotokos,

 in the Resurrection of your Son!

• The angel says it twice — again! 
• And not only is Christ Risen but so are all the dead. Rejoicing is for everyone — the whole world. 
• The Church, as New Jerusalem, is invited to bask in the bright-shining of Easter. We're supposed to be the ones who announce to the world what's true for everyone.
• Don't these brilliant Ukrainian eggs reflect that radiant shining: stylized crosses, a spotted galloping horse, encircling vines...
• We're invited even to dance for joy. Can we imagine? Zion is another word for Jerusalem. 
• Jerusalem is an international city. How sad when we exclude. How un-Christly.
• Mary is addressed as Mother of God (Theotokos). 
• There are nine exclamation points in the hymn's verses. I think of them as surprise marks! Are we numb to the Resurrection? Have we lost our sense of wonder, delight and surprise?

Hymn to the Virgin

Benjamin Britten (1913-1976) was an English composer, conductor and pianist. In 1930, at age 16, and while laid up in his school infirmary, he set to music the words of a Medieval poem-prayer to the Virgin Mary. The piece is titled, "Hymn to the Virgin." 

The carol-like work is called a tiny masterpiece, full of spiritual drama. The lyrics are sung in English by a first chorus but a second group of singers provide a kind of Latin echo after each line. The spiritual content is felt deeply by the use of increasing intensity and tempo, while the hymn ends in a profound tranquility.

Before listening to the hymn we might read the lyrics. The Latin  to English translation to the short phrases is given in parerentheses.

Of one that is so fair and bright,

   velut maris stella, (like a star of the sea)

Brighter than the day is light,

   parens et puella. (mother and maiden)

I cry to thee, thou see to me,

   Lady, pray thy Son for me, Tam pia, (such a virtuous one)

That I may come to thee. Maria! (Mary)

All this world was forlorn

   Eva peccatrice, (through Eve, the sinner)

Till our Lord was y-born

   de te genetrice. (of thee, the mother)

With ave it went away

   darkest night, and comes the day salutis: (of salvation)

The well springeth out of thee virtutis. (of virtue)

Lady, flow'r of everything,

   rosa sine spina, (rose without thorn)

Thou bare Jesu, heaven's King,

   gratia divina: (by divine grace)

Of all that bear'st the prize,

   Lady, queen of paradise, Electa: (chosen one)

Maid mild, mother es effecta. (you are made)

- anonymous author, circa 1300

O Jesus, I Have Promised

The text for this lovely hymn was written by John E. Bode (1816-1874). The tune was composed by William H. Ferguson (1874-1950) to celebrate the Confirmation of his son and daughter in 1866. The hymn is described as a "warm and personal expression of Christian commitment giving musical expression to St. John's Gospel 12:15-26 where Jesus says, "If anyone serve me, let him follow me, and where I am, there shall also my servant be."

One critic writes that the hymn is too personal, failing to mention  our membership in a larger Christian community and that the verses do not reflect that God has known us long before we have known God. But I would say it is unfair to expect a hymn, or poem, or book to say everything.

Let's contemplate these faces of Jesus as we listen carefully, and enjoy the gifts which poet and composer have shared with us. Oh, that our hearts would be changed for knowing and following Christ.

O Jesus, I have promised

To serve thee to the end:

Be thou forever near me,

My Master and my friend; 

I shall not fear the battle,

If thou art by my side,

Nor wander from the pathway, 

If thou wilt be my guide.

O let me hear thee speaking

In accents clear and still,

Above the storms of passion,

The murmurs of self will;

O speak to reassure me,

To hasten or control;

O speak, and make me listen,

Thou guardian of my soul.

O Jesus, thou hast promised 

To all who follow thee,

That where thou art in glory

There shall thy servant be;

And, Jesus, I have promised

To serve thee to the end;

O give me grace to follow,

My Master and my friend.

The Moon Shines Full....

Last night's moon over Chicago

Priest-Martyr, Father Alexander Men said: "God has given us two books, the book of nature and the book of the Bible." So did you see the bright super-moon last night or early this morning? I found myself singing a hymn we often used in the seminary: I Sing the Mighty Power of God.

I sing the mighty power of God
that made the mountains rise,
that spread the flowing seas abroad,
and built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained
the sun to rule the day; 
the moon shines full at his command,
and all the stars obey.

I sing the goodness of the Lord
that filled the earth with food;
he formed the creatures with his word
and then pronounced them good.
Lord, how your wonders are displayed
where'er I turn my eyes;
if I survey the ground I tread 
or gaze upon the skies.

There's not a plant or flower below
that makes your glories known;
and clouds arise and tempests blow
by order from your throne;
while all that borrows life from thee
is ever in your care,
and everywhere that we can be,
you, God, are present there.

In The Bleak Mid-Winter

These posts are sent out from North East Pennsylvania (United States!) The winter here can be long and difficult, but thus far there's been hardly a flake of snow, let alone a blizzard. Still, some weeks ago there was a traditional mix of sleety-snow which lasted just a few minutes and then was gone.  I ran and filmed a bit of it with my phone-camera: the little fir tree having been planted last spring. Then the lovely carol for the Christmas Season came to mind. The snow, the tree, the lyrics come together beautifully. If you listen carefully you can even hear the snow!

Help Us Accept Each Other

Following this morning's post reflecting on the Largesse of Jesus, I later found myself singing the lovely hymn, Help Us Accept Each Other. The lyrics were written by Fred Kaan and the tune is Kings Lynn. It is found in the Worship II hymnal. 

We might ask the parish music director if it could be taught to the folks for Mass. It's the kind of hymn which has the power to change and evolve us. The lyrics, and this new icon of a young and very beautiful Jesus, call us to a deep meditation.

Help us accept each other 
As Christ accepted us;
Teach us as sister, brother,
Each person to embrace,
Be present, Lord, among us,
And bring us to believe
We are ourselves accepted
And meant to love and live. 

Teach us, O Lord, your lessons,
As in our daily life
We struggle to be human
And search for hope and faith,
Teach us to care for people, 
For all, not just for some;
To love them as we find them, 
Or, as they may become.

Let your acceptance change us,
So that we may be moved
In living situations
To do the truth in love;
To practice your acceptance,
Until we know by heart
The table of forgiveness
And laughter's healing art.

Lord, for today's encounters
With all who are in need,
Who hunger for acceptance,
For righteousness and bread,
We need new eyes for seeing,
New hands for holding on;
Renew us with your Spirit;
Lord, free us, make us one!