Fundamentally the plea for the Church to recognize, further, and live congruently with a life of receptivity, where all is gift from the Triune God, as the poet put it, "unasked, unsought, unearned." Gift from the heart of Him whose love for us knows no bounds and who summons us to be enlivened by simply receiving. "Open your mouth wide and I will fill it!" Psalm 81. Blessed Festival, people loved by God!
Pastor Weedon,
ReplyDeleteIt was my privilege to introduce the hymn, 'Where Shepherds Lately Knelt' to my congregation last Christmas. The last stanza is absolutely the best -
'Can I, will I forget how Love was born, and burned
Its way into my heart--unasked, unforced, unearned,
To die, to live, and not alone for me,
To die, to live, and not alone for me?' LSB 369
Years ago I had the great privilege of attending a hymn writing seminar with Professor Schalk and Pastor Vajda. To sing alongside the composer and poet was one of the highlights of my life.
Thanks for the memory.
In Christ,
Diane