Monday, March 11, 2024  

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Today's Hymn
“What Wondrous Love Is This”

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on;
and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be,
and through eternity, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
and through eternity I’ll sing on.

American folk hymn
Hymn 215, Glory to God
verse 4

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Reflection

My wife and I have four now-adult sons. When they were young and we were young parents, we attempted to drill into them five Calian Boy Rules: Rule #1 – No Whining. Rule #2 – No Lying. Rule #3 – Be Kind. Rule #4 – blah. Rule #5 – blah, blah.

After years of Calian boys breaking those rules daily, even hourly, we dropped all those rules and put in place only one: Love.

In this beautiful and haunting hymn, we repeatedly are given the answer to the two most important questions each of us asks ourselves throughout our lives: “Who am I?” and “How should I live?”

God provides the same simple answer to both: Love.

For the first question, God’s love makes us beloved and whole. It is an unconditional love that is not earned but given by the gift of grace. I am a loved child of God.

For the second question as to how I should live, the answer is for me to love God, myself, and others. This love makes me vulnerable but also complete. I live a loving life.

It is only through love that we breathe in, and breathe out, the truth and beauty of this world and its wonders.

As the words in this hymn’s final verse state, when “from death I’m free, I’ll sing on,” we will exalt God throughout eternity. What an opportunity to praise God and continue to love, and be loved, for ever and ever.

And we owe it all to a love we can never fully understand that we did not do anything to earn. Indeed, what wondrous love is this?

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Prayer
Dear God, thank you for showing us how love — not rules — is the answer. Amen.

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Written by Phil Calian, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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