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The Collect
Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Lessons
1 Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 23; Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-41
The Meditation
In a 1624 sermon, John Donne wrote:
He brought light out of darkness, not out of a lesser light, and he can bring thee summer out of winter, though thou hast no spring. Though in the ways of fortune, understanding, or conscience thou hast been benighted till now, wintered and frozen, clouded and eclipsed, damped and benumbed, smothered and stupefied, now God comes to thee, not as the dawning of the day, not as the bud of the spring, but as the sun at noon. All occasions invite his mercies, and all times are his seasons.
Today is the fourth Sunday in Lent, often known as Laetare Sunday ("Be joyful" in Latin), a day of refreshment in the midst of our Lenten fast. A thoughtful bishop once pointed out to me that a healthy Christian faith does not focus itself on sin, but rather on the forgiveness of sin, as articulated in the Creed. The business of seeking and offering forgiveness is what we are to be about. This radical proclamation--that God offers forgiveness rather than blame--is at the heart of today's gospel.
Laetere Sunday offers us a reminder that our Lenten observance is one of movement, of turning. Turning away from sin, yes, but always turning toward something, too--toward the God of mercy and forgiveness. In the midst of this penitential season, we rejoice that God comes to us in darkness, in valleys, in blindness, and in our sinfulness to offer us his goodness and mercy.
All occasions invite his mercies, and all times are his seasons, indeed.
Organ solo: O for a thousand tongues to sing
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Arrangement by Jason D. Payne and performed on the 62 rank Reuter/Schlueter organ of Briarlake Baptist Church.
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Text of Hymn 493:
O for a thousand tongues to sing my dear Redeemer's praise,
the glories of my God and King, the triumphs of his grace!
My gracious Master, and my God, assist me to proclaim,
and spread through all the earth abroad the honors of thy Name.
Jesus! the name that charms our fears, and bids our sorrows cease;
'tis music in the sinner's ears, 'tis life, and health, and peace.
He speaks; and, listening to his voice, new life the dead receive,
the mournful, broken hearts rejoice, the humble poor believe.
Hear him, ye deaf; ye voiceless ones, your loosen'd tongues employ;
ye blind, behold your Savior comes; and leap, ye lame, for joy!
Glory to God, and praise and love be now and ever given
by saints below, and saints above, the church in earth and heaven.
Solemn Prayer (may replace the Trinitarian Blessing in Lent)
Grant, most merciful Lord, to your faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve you with a quiet mind; through Christ our Lord.
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