This weekend in the first two readings we hear of love in all its various forms. In the first reading, we hear one of my personal favorite passages: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you…” (Jeremiah 1:4) Yes, God truly knows and loves us. He created us. In the second reading we also hear about love in a reading that is often proclaimed at weddings: “Love is patient, love is kind…It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
The Gospel passages verves off that path of directly speaking of love in some senses by talking about how Jesus was not accepted in his home town as a prophet and they attempt to throw him off a cliff. How much love is he showing, though, by not doing something to them? He could have easily thrown all of them off the cliff, but instead he ‘passed through the midst of them and went away.’ Okay, maybe this Gospel passage is about love too!
How does our music tie in to this theme? Our opening song, once again, serves as a gathering and bringing together of all of the people of God, centering ourselves on what we have come together to do. “Gather Your people, O Lord. One bread, one body, one spirit of love… Draw us forth to the table of life…we are parts of the body of Christ, needing each other, each of the gifts the Spirit provides.”
Our song at the preparation of gifts, “Love Goes On”, is a fairly new hymn composed by Bernadette Farrell in 2004, with revisions in 2012. The text for this hymn is based on the second reading from today as well as a passage from John 13.
At Communion, our first song is based on the Eucharist and gives some standard theological teachings straight out of the Bible. It’s always a good thing when the texts that we sing in our songs come directly out the inspired Word of God – nothing made up to sound cute or rhyming – just simply God’s Word to His Prophets. Take it to heart and reflect upon it.
Our second song, “You Alone”, contrasts how we accept Jesus versus how His own people rejected Him (granted we have 2000 years of history to help us out – and yet how we still reject Him in various ways every day!). “You alone are holy, You alone are Lord. You alone are worthy to be honored and adored. Mercy You have given, kindness You have shown. Love is you alone.” Ah, back to the love theme too!
Our closing song is another traditional hymn of praise, “Now Thank We All Our God”. We end our worship giving glory to God for all He has done.
A closing note – for ALL liturgical ministers – you should have received an evite to our annual Liturgical Renewal Workshop on Feb. 16th from 10am – 1pm in church. Please RSVP for a count for lunch! Contact me if you have any questions!