“Lord Jesus, You Shall Be My Song,” ELW 808
Devotion
The text for today's hymn cannot be published due to copyright limitations. We apologize for the inconvenience.
The L'Arche community in France pairs volunteers to supportively live with adults with severe limitations. Some of the residents would be unable to move beyond their beds without a partner serving as their dresser, bather, feeder and friend. To serve those with such significant impairments requires the volunteer to fully explore for him or herself the meaning of, "love your neighbor as I have loved you."
"Lord Jesus, you shall be my song as I journey." That affirmation could well guide each of us this Lord's Day, reminding each of us that we never journey alone. We are always a part of a community that includes the Lord of the church who loves us deeply.
"As long as I live Jesus make me your servant, to carry your cross and to share all your burdens and tears." The theme of the lessons this past week have concentrated on the image of a vineyard, too often not well tended. This hymn from the L'Arche community offers a fine blueprint for living well on the journey of faith. To carry the cross is to acknowledge that the life of faith involves trusting in the love and mercy of God in a world all too often characterized by pain, suffering and death.
The fear of such a world is transformed into courage when faith perceives the presence of love as our companion. Then we truly can lift our voices in a glad confidence and, "sing to your dawn and the end of our journey."
Prayer
Lord Jesus, let my worship this day be a heart that overflows with gratitude for the grace you have shown me, and a trust that you will multiply my joy by letting me walk with another as a caring companion on the road. Amen.