I often reflect on this time and am grateful for my time spent as a young LDS boy singing in an a Episcopal Church. Having listened to sermon after sermon on Palm Sunday, Good Friday sermons on the stations of the cross, and culminating in a Easter Sunday with glorious music proclaiming, indeed, He has risen!All glory, laud, and honorTo thee, Redeemer, King,To whom the lips of childrenMade sweet hosannas ring.Thou art the King of Israel,Thou David’s royal Son,Who in the Lord’s name comest,The King and Blessed One.The company of angelsAre praising thee on high,And mortal men and all thingsCreated make reply.The people of the HebrewsWith palms before thee went;Our praise and love and anthemsBefore thee we present.To thee, before thy passion,They sang their hymns of praise;To thee, now high exalted,Our melody we raise.Thou didst accept their praises;Accept the love we bring,Who in all good delightest,Thou good and gracious King.
In those three simple verses contain so much truth! So, could my end all statement be: #BecauseofHim I am a child of God? Yes, it surely could be. I thought further on not only who I am, but what I am because of Him. Presently in my life, I am set apart as a musical missionary for the Church of a Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This is a service mission as a member of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. And presently, we are getting ready to perform Handel's Messiah as an Easter gift to the world. Music has played a huge part in my life in the past and, dare say it, it will continue with me on this earth until I breathe no more. With many of the titles contained in the Hymnbook and with many of the titles of the Messiah, one could insert, "Because of Him" in front and get greater insight and truth:I am a child of God,And he has sent me here,Has given me an earthly homeWith parents kind and dear.I am a child of God,And so my needs are great;Help me to understand his wordsBefore it grows too late.I am a child of God.Rich blessings are in store;If I but learn to do his willI’ll live with him once more.ChorusLead me, guide me, walk beside me,Help me find the way.Teach me all that I must doTo live with him someday.
- (Because of Him) I know that my Redeemer Lives
- (Because of Him) <And> With His stripes we are healed
- (Because of Him) [We] Cast our burdens upon The Lord
This parable is, to me a roadmap for us to endure to the end. That we, as children of God need to be good Samaritans and:And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
Luke 10:25-37
- Show compassion for others - even those that we do not know.
- Be willing and able come to the aid of others - again, even those we don't know.
- Be willing and able to give of ourselves through whatever means to others - even those we so not know.
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