“O God of Mercy, God of Light” (ELW 714)
Devotion
O God of mercy, God of light,
in love and mercy infinite,
teach us, as ever in your sight,
to live our lives in you.
You sent your Son to die for all,
that our lost world might hear your call;
oh, hear us lest we stray and fall!
We rest our hope in you.
Teach us the lesson Jesus taught:
to feel for those his blood has bought,
that ev'ry deed and word and thought
may work a work for you.
For all are kindred, far and wide,
since Jesus Christ for all has died;
grant us the will, and grace provide,
to love them all in you.
In sickness, sorrow, want, or care,
may we each other's burdens share;
may we, where help is needed, there
give help as though to you.
And may your Holy Spirit move
all those who live to live in love,
till you receive in heav'n above
all those who live in you.
In this hymn I am powerfully reminded of God’s "all." God created all, loves all and is redeeming all. God in Christ is reconciling the entire world. This is especially clear in the book of Ephesians, but it runs as a thread throughout the Bible. The church has given us the theology of the cross which assures us that there is no place, no person and no condition so awful that God cannot redeem it. "You sent your Son to die for all, that our lost world might hear your call/ Oh hear us lest we stray and fall! We rest our hope in you." It is of course, both a joy to hear these words, and—if we are honest—a scandal. All? All people worthy of God's unrelenting love and grace? We know it, and we believe it, and we sometimes chafe against it. Hymns like this one keep this confession front and center, "For all are kindred far and wide, since Jesus Christ for all has died, grant us the will, and grace provide, to love them all in you." In this Sunday's gospel Jesus challenges you and me, not just the lawyer, to live into this truth.
Prayer
God I admit your love for all is both inviting, and challenging. Have mercy on my slowness of heart; grant me the joy of living into your son, Jesus. Amen.