Monday, March 31
You Are Beloved
And a voice from heaven said, this is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased. – Matthew 3:17
In the process of compiling a book of my dad’s letters that he wrote home to my mother and me, I came across this reflection that he wrote following a worship service while on a ship carrying thousands of service men overseas at the beginning of World War II.
“We had Divine services yesterday morning shortly after I wrote you. There’s something gripping about services like that – hundreds of men of different faiths, different countries, different ranks, gathering to renew and affirm their guidance of the Almighty, singing the old familiar hymns while outside rages a world war, represented, as it were, by the waves beating against this magnificent boat.” – W.D. Cotton1
For me, there is something gripping about gathering in the sanctuary as we sing the familiar hymns of faith that stir in our hearts during this season of Lent.
“What language shall I borrow to thank thee, dearest friend, for this thy dying sorrow, thy pity without end? O make me thine forever; and should I fainting be, Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to thee.”2
Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Oh, sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they crucified my Lord?3
Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee! E’en though it be a cross that raiseth me, still all my song shall be nearer, my God to thee; nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee!4
Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come. Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home.5
As we move through this season of Lent, pay attention to the words you hear that may come only to your ear. Pay attention, and you may hear what Jesus heard as he came up from the waters of baptism, “This is my Beloved, in whom I am well pleased.” I believe that those words come to us, each of us, as a blessing for our journey through the days of Lent. We are called to live as one who is Beloved. It is our blessing from the One that God first called, My Beloved, his son and our savior, Jesus the Christ. To hear ourselves called Beloved is a blessing. I cannot promise you there will be no ‘dangers, toils or snares’ that come your way. But I can tell you there will be help on this path. Along the Lenten Way you will find the strange grace that comes to meet us bearing comfort and strength for the journey for no other reason than Grace Alone.
Holy and gracious God, in this season of Lent, open our ears to hear your voice calling us Beloved. When the waves of life rage around us, when dangers and toils come our way, remind us that your grace is ever near, guiding and sustaining us. May we walk this Lenten path with hearts stirred by your love, held fast by your mercy, and strengthened to live as your Beloved. Amen.
Rev. Carole Cotton Winn, 2017
1 My Darling; A World War II Scrapbook, ©2016 Carole Cotton Winn
2 O, Sacred Head, Now Wounded (UMH p. 286)
3 Were You There (UMH p. 288)
4 Nearer, My God, to Thee (UMH p. 528)
5 Amazing Grace (UMH p. 378)