Jesus, Refuge of the Weary

Today in church, our closing hymn was "Jesus, Refuge of the Weary". The words were penned by Girolamo Savonarola in the 1400's. Hmm......I read about him once in a book. He was a priest in Italy, perhaps around Florence, who was obsessed with getting rid of books and art which he considered offensive and immoral. The book I was reading was a novel about two college students who believed they had found coded information in an old, mysterious manuscript, giving clues to a stash of priceless artwork and books hidden away back in the days of Savonarola's purges. It was just fiction, of course, but the old manuscript really exists; I have forgotten the details of it, though, and long ago gave the book away.



Father Savonarola evidently attracted quite a following for awhile. People would flock to his Masses, and he spoke of having visions from God. Eventually, Mr. Savonarola must have crossed a line, for he ended up being executed on the order of a Pope. Imagine what Mr. Savonarola would think of today's art, movies, TV shows, books, etc.!

I can understand why this hymn would be chosen to sing on Oculi Sunday.......the words speak several times of "seeing".......Christ seeing the sinner's fall.......and the need for us to keep our eyes on Christ. Through inner spiritual sight, I would say, but some might think of a more literal meaning: viewing the bread and wine of Communion as the Body and Blood of Christ.

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Verse 1:

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Jesus, refuge of the weary,

Blest redeemer, whom we love,

Fountain in life's desert dreary,

Savior from the world above:

Often have your eyes, offended,

Gazed upon the sinner's fall;

Yet upon the cross extended,

You have borne the pain of all.

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Verse 2:

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Do we pass that cross unheeding,

Breathing no repentant vow,

Though we see you wounded, bleeding,

See your thornencircled brow?

Yet your sinless death has brought us

Life eternal, peace and rest;

Only what your grace has taught us

Calms the sinner's deep distress.

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Verse 3:

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Jesus, may our hearts be burning

With more fervent love for you;

May our eyes be ever turning

To behold your cross, anew;

Till in glory, parted never

From the blessed Savior's side,

Graven in our hearts forever,

Dwell the cross, the Crucified.

AMEN

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Cyberhymnal link for this hymn

How Good, Lord, To Be Here

Here's a hymn from last Sunday, when the readings and the sermon focused on the Transfiguration of Our Lord: It is "How Good, Lord, To Be Here", with words by Joseph A. Robinson, 1858-1933. (Hmm......his name doesn't sound very German Lutheran.) The tune (which you can't hear here, because its not on Cyberhymnal) is by J. S. Bach.

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Verse 1:

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How good, Lord, to be here!

Your glory fill the night;

Your face and garments, like the sun,

Shine with unborrowed light.

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Verse 2:

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How good, Lord, to be here,

Your beauty to behold

Where Moses and Elijah stand,

Your messengers of old.

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Verse 3:

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Fulfiller of the past

And hope of things to be!

We hail your body glorified

And our redemption see.

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Verse 4:

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Before we taste of death,

We see your kingdom come;

We long to hold the vision bright

And make this hill our home.

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Verse 5:

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How good, Lord, to be here!

Yet we may not remain;

But since you bid us leave the mount,

Come with us to the plain.

AMEN

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The final verse of this hymn is what stays in my mind......."Come with us to the plain." That's where we abide, here on earth, in our daily lives, with troubles and toils abounding.

"How good, Lord, to be here!" Sounds a little too emotional for Lutherans, but we feel it anyway........in our time in church and in devotions and prayer.