“Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life,” ELW 719 & LBW 429
Where cross the crowded ways of life,
where sound the cries of race and clan,
above the noise of selfish strife,
we hear your voice, O Son of Man.
In haunts of wretchedness and need,
on shadowed thresholds dark with fears,
from paths where hide the lures of greed,
we catch the vision of your tears.
From tender childhood’s helplessness,
from human grief and burdened toil,
from famished souls, from sorrow’s stress,
your heart has never known recoil.
The cup of water giv’n for you
still holds freshness of your grace;
yet long these multitudes to view
the strong compassion in your face.
O Master, from the mountainside
make haste to heal these hearts of pain;
among these restless throngs abide;
oh, tread the city’s streets again.
Till all the world shall learn your love
and follow where your feet have trod,
till glorious from your heav’n above
shall come the city of our God.
Devotion
This past summer, nations crossed crowded ways of life in search of winning the World Cup.
This late fall, our nation will cross crowded ways of thinking and doing in the November elections.
In our communities we see the homeless crowding the corners with signs asking for a little of this and that.
Our Gospel text for the day hears the rich man calling for Lazarus to bring a drop of water to cool his tongue. A drop of water! The hymn writer wrote, “The cup of water giv’n for you still holds the freshness of your grace.”
As we journey through life with “the crowded ways of life, where sound the cries of race and clan above the noise of selfish strife” may we be tuned to hear Your voice, O Son of Man, and share a drop of water as given opportunity.
Prayer
Holy Father, we are grateful for the diversity of your people. We confess that sometimes in our fear, we do not have a strong compassion to love, to heal and to help those not like us in the Cross crowded ways of life. Forgive us we pray! Amen.