Wednesday of Holy Week – April 16 – “that I might know how to speak to the weary”
The days of Holy Week take the four mysterious Songs of the Servant of God from their places in Isaiah to give them a home in the heart of the liturgy for these days (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday). Today’s 3rd song reminds that our weariness appears where we live close to the ground and from our hearts. The days of Holy week take human violence and temper it into grief and weariness of heart, a profound resilience may be especially needed as this hard year winds toward final exams.
from The Third Servant Song:
“The Lord God has given me
a well-trained tongue,
That I might know how to wpeak to the weary
a word that will rouse them.
Morning after morning
he opens my ear that I might hear.” Isaiah 50:4-6
Have a blest day.
john st sj
Today’s post “Precious Lord”
Wikipedia tells us that Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey (1899-1993) wrote “Precious Lord” in response to his inconsolable grief at the death of his wife, Nettie Harper, in childbirth, and his infant son in August 1932.[4]” It was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s favorite song and he often invited Mahalia Jackson to sing it at civil rights rallies. At his request, she sang it at his funeral in April 1968.
Here is a five minute version sung by Jackson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=as1rsZenwNc
“Precious Lord, take my hand,
Lead me on, let me stand.
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn.
Thru the storm, thru the night,
Lead me on to the light.
Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.
When my way grows drear, precious Lord, linger near,
When my life is almost gone, hear my cry, hear my call,
Hold my hand lest I fall;
Take my hand, precious Lord, Lead me home.”
