By Pastor Mark Woodward
Maple Leaf Parish of the UMC Cherry Grove, Fountain, Preston, and Spring Valley: Faith
Churches (and Lenora)
We are in the season of Lent. The Lenten season is often overlooked by secular society, as Lent does not draw the attention and glamour often paid to the Advent season leading up to Christmas. Lent is a quiet, personal and reflective time and sometimes people who are in a hurry or people who experience stress, pressure and too many demands on their time, tend to relegate Lent to the “back burner.” Sometimes Lent is forgotten altogether as people set their sights on Easter and the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead. (Kind of like skipping the vegetables and rushing to the dessert!!)
In my own life, I find Lent to be a reflective season – a time for repentance, spiritual renewal and experiencing the awesome love of God. Lent is a time to really stop and think about God’s love shown in Jesus Christ who suffered and died out of love for you and me. During Lent I like to think about a great hymn written many years ago in 1739 by Rev. Charles Wesley based on Acts 16:26.
Granted, the tune of this hymn is hard to sing, but the message goes right to the heart and for me this is at the core of the Lenten season. “And Can It Be That I Should Gain” speaks directly to you and me. And even though the words for this hymn come from 1739, they ring true with spiritual power for our modern era. Here’s a sample of the hymn:
“And can it be that I should gain an interest in the
Savior’s blood!
Died he for me?
who caused his pain!
For me? who him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me! Amazing love! How can it be that thou my God shouldst die for me?
He left his Father’s throne above (so free, so infinite his grace!) emptied himself of all but love, and bled for Adam’s helpless race.
‘Tis mercy all, immense and free, for O my God, it found out me!
‘Tis mercy all , immense and free, for O my God, it found out me!
Long my imprisoned spirit lay, fast bound in sin and nature’s night;thine eye diffused a quickening ray; I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; my chains fell off, my heart was free. I rose, went forth and followed thee. My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose went forth and followed thee.”
(The rest of this great hymn is found on page 363 of the 1989 United Methodist Hymnal.)
During this Lenten season this hymn often brings tears to my eyes when I hear it or sing it. It is emotional and filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. Just think of the amazing love shown for each one of us in the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus loves you and me so very much that he gave his life for us truly out of sheer love.
Wesley’s great hymn: “And Can It Be That I Should Gain” speaks to my heart every time I hear it. May this Lenten season be a blessing for all of us and may we take time to stop and really think about the amazing love God shows for us … and may our “chains” fall off, too, and may we be set free to live and walk with Jesus each and every day … May this be a blessed and renewing time for us all.
God loves you and me so very much! Truly, “amazing love” for you and me!
An old song from 1739 still conveys the redeeming love of God for us all!
God’s blessings always.
Your friend,
Pastor Mark Woodward
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