Thursday, April 4, 2024  

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Today's Hymn
“Jesus Calls Us”

Jesus calls us: o’er the tumult
of our life’s wild, restless sea;
day by day his sweet voice soundeth
saying, “Christian, follow me.”

Jesus calls us from the worship
of the vain world’s golden store,
from each idol that would keep us,
saying, “Christian, love me more.”

by Cecil Frances Alexander
Hymn 720, Glory to God
verse 1–2

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Reflection

The end of Lent leads us into the liturgical season of Easter and then Ordinary Time, a period in which we will stay until Advent begins. While the seasons of Lent and Advent are focused on preparing for Easter and Christmas, respectively, Ordinary Time has no such focus. It is, in fact, where we spend most of our time, living through the normal events that make up our lives.

As we transition from the contemplative season of Lent to Easter and then so-called normal life, this hymn reminds us that we are always being called to listen to the voice of Jesus. In the first verse of this hymn, the writer (a woman who lived in Ireland during the nineteenth century) describes life as a “wild, restless sea” — a terrific metaphor for the noise and distractions of daily life. There are so many responsibilities, so many things to think about, so many matters that concern us, that we can be forgiven for forgetting about Jesus’ call. Yet his voice reaches us over that tumult, if we will listen.

In the second verse of the hymn, the poet’s reference to the world’s “golden store” and to “each idol that would keep us” reminds us that we are living in a world that may not always align with our values. As Christians, we are called to worship Jesus, to value the spiritual over the temporal. The hymn writer reminds us of our purpose — to follow Jesus, and to listen for his voice in our “ordinary” lives. Perhaps the Ordinary Time we look ahead to is not so “ordinary” after all.

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Prayer
Jesus, as we glory in your resurrection and grace, remind us daily of your call to us over the distractions and idols we encounter in our normal lives. Do not let us lose sight of your love for us and your purpose for us in this world. Remind us that no day following you is ordinary. Amen. 

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Written by Juli Crabtree, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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