New Year

Early this morning as I drove to Darfield to celebrate Mass I listened to Hymns for Sunday Morning. 

I was very aware of the morning as the first dawn of the new year. I was also thinking of the significance of the feast of Mary, Mother of God, and the world day of prayer for peace which we mark today.

I am always needing signs from God; signs of encouragement, forgiveness and love. This morning, just after I turned on the radio, one of my favourite hymns played. Was it chance, or did God intend this for me? I knew that this was no coincidence, but rather a sign, from God, for me.

You might like to take a moment to savour the words (Whittier) with the melody (Parry's Repton).

As we begin the new year I pray that all readers of this blog will experience a new year filled with "the beauty of thy peace."

Dear Lord and Father of mankind,

Forgive our foolish ways!

Reclothe us in our rightful mind,

In purer lives Thy service find,

In deeper reverence, praise.

In simple trust like theirs who heard

Beside the Syrian sea

The gracious calling of the Lord,

Let us, like them, without a word

Rise up and follow Thee.

O Sabbath rest by Galilee!

O calm of hills above,

Where Jesus knelt to share with Thee

The silence of eternity

Interpreted by love!

With that deep hush subduing all

Our words and works that drown

The tender whisper of Thy call,

As noiseless let Thy blessing fall

As fell Thy manna down.

Drop Thy still dews of quietness,

Till all our strivings cease;

Take from our souls the strain and stress,

And let our ordered lives confess

The beauty of Thy peace.

Breathe through the heats of our desire

Thy coolness and Thy balm;

Let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;

Speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,

O still, small voice of calm!