Sunday, February 25, 2024  

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Today's Hymn
“Dear Lord and Father of Mankind”

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.

by John Greenleaf Whittier
Hymn 169, Glory to God
verse 1

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Reflection

The first verse of this lovely hymn, part of a longer poem written in 1872 by John Greenleaf Whittier, a Quaker and a prolific writer and editor, is particularly appropriate as a guide to meditation for Lent. As we move through the season of Lent we are called to turn our focus from the external world (our foolish ways) to the spiritual world (our rightful mind). Once we are “reclothed” in spirit, we can more deeply serve God through service, reverence, and praise.

The poet’s metaphor of “reclothing” brings to mind Paul’s letters to the early Christians. Paul reminds the Galatians that those who are baptized in Christ are clothed in Christ (Galatians 3:27). He calls on the Ephesians to clothe themselves in their new selves, according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:24). And to the Colossians, Paul writes that they are now clothed in new selves, renewed in the knowledge of their creator. He urges them to clothe themselves in compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience, and in love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony (Colossians 3).

The poet’s beautiful use of language, though somewhat archaic to our twenty-first-century ears, concisely describes the renewing journey from the material to the spiritual that we make as we await the resurrection of Christ.

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Prayer
Dear Lord and Creator, reclothe us in your image. Lead us to clothe ourselves in holiness and righteousness, and especially love, which binds your creation together in perfect harmony. Amen.

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Written by Juli Crabtree, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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