Love Consecrates the Humblest Act, LBW 122 & ELW 360
1 Love consecrates the humblest act
And haloes mercy's deeds;
It sheds a benediction sweet
And hallows human needs
2 When in the shadow of the cross
Christ knelt and washed the feet
Of his disciples, he gave us
A sign of love complete.
3 Love serves and willing stoops to serve;
What Christ in love so true
Has freely done for one and all,
Let us now gladly do!
Devotion
This hymn, eloquent in its simplicity, is usually sung during Holy Week, yet it is fitting for the many gospel texts in which Jesus taught his second commandment: to love your neighbor as yourself. As love consecrated Jesus’ smallest and greatest acts of mercy, so it consecrates our humblest acts of mercy as well.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, as you stooped to serve, so give us the humility to receive your gracious acts of mercy and the compassion to serve our neighbors. Amen.