Day Thirty Five — Monday in Holy Week — 21 March

Hear our voice, O Lord, according to your faithful love.

Lectionary readings (Click the links to see the readings):
Isaiah 42.1-9 | Psalm 36.5-1 1 | Hebrews 9.11-15 | John 12.1-11

Jesus weeps Jesus comes near and he beholds the city And looks on us with tears in his eyes, And wells of mercy, streams of love and pity Flow from the fountain whence all things arise. He loved us into life and longs to gather And meet with his beloved face to face. How often has he called, a careful mother, And wept for our refusals of his grace, Wept for a world that, weary with its weeping, Benumbed and stumbling, turns the other way; Fatigued compassion is already sleeping Whilst her worst nightmares stalk the light of day. But we might waken yet, and face those fears, If we could see ourselves through Jesus' tears. —Malcolm Guite. Sounding the Seasons. Norwich: Canterbury, 2012, p. 33

Douglas Blanchard. Jesus Prays Alone.

J.S. Bach: St Matthew Passion, BWV 244. Choral: Was mein Gott will, das g'shleh allzeit.
Philharmonica Orchestra and Choir, cond. Otto Klemperer, 1962. (at a remarkably slow tempo!)

Was mein Gott will, das g'scheh allzeit,
Sein Will, der ist der beste,
Zu helfen den'n er ist bereit,
Die an ihn gläuben feste.
Er hilft aus Not, der fromme Gott,
Und züchtiget mit Maßen.
Wer Gott vertraut, fest auf ihn baut,
Den will er nicht verlassen.

May what my God wills happen always
His will is what is best,
For he is ready to help those
Who believe firmly in him.
He helps them in their distress, the righteous God,
And chastises in measure.
The person who trusts God, builds firmly on him
He will not abandon.