Tag: rejection

‘Jesus’ open love would lead him’ – a hymn inspired by a healing on the Sabbath

Jesus' open love would lead him

The unexpected healing by Jesus on a Sabbath of a crippled, and hence alienated, woman inspired these words:

1	Jesus' open love would lead him 
	into conflict with the law. 
	People then, and now, believing, 
	they know wrong, of this they're sure.
	
2	Such aggressive condemnation:
	not the way we should behave, 
	we have rules and regulations 
	plotting how our God can save.
	
3	These are rules that God has given, 
	rules that we must strive to keep, 
	yet it seems that Jesus challenged 
	norms that made the path too steep.
	
4	Rules he offered changed perceptions, 
	moved from punishment to grace, 
	showed a way of loving, living, 
	we might risk within this place.
	
5	Love beyond imagination, 
	love to heed and to enthral,
	love not bounded by rejection, 
	love that reaches out to all. 

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2013 Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, England copyright@stainer.co.uk . Please include any reproduction for local church use on your CCL Licence returns. All wider and any commercial use requires prior application to Stainer & Bell Ltd
Metre: 8 7 8 7 Trochaic
Tune: ST CATHERINE (Jones)


She felt just like a ragged dog – a hymn based on Matthew 15: 21-28

She felt just like a ragged dog - a hymn based on Matthew 15: 21-28

1	She felt just like a ragged dog 
	that scratched around for food, 
	denied, despised and kicked aside 
	and never any good.
	
2	Yet now she stood inside the door 
	and pleaded with this man, 
	for each taboo had little weight, 
	her grief had wider span.
	
3	Her child had need of healing help 
	and she would make Christ hear, 
	the urgency of anguished need 
	had overcome her fear.
	
4	And in that moment he would learn, 
	audacity would teach
	that human laws and well worn creeds 
	put no-one out of reach.
	
5	Compassion ruled and loved compelled 
	to action on that day, 
	and Jesus' reach was broadened as 
	he learnt that grace held sway.

Andrew E Pratt (born 1948)
Words © 2012  Stainer & Bell Ltd, London, England copyright@stainer.co.uk . Please include any reproduction for local church use on your CCL Licence returns. All wider and any commercial use requires prior application to Stainer & Bell Ltd
Metre: CM 
Tune: AULD LANG SYNE