Day 282: O The Magnitude of Mercy

 DAY 282

                              Faith in the Midst of a Pandemic                     

A series of daily reflections for people of faith

by Rev. Robert Bayley, Interim Pastor

Patuxent Presbyterian Church, California, Maryland

pastorrobert@paxpres.org

Week Forty-one    Monday 21 December 2020

O The Magnitude of Mercy

O the magnitude of mercy,

timeless God in history born;

he who made all things now joining

Adam’s race on Beth’lem’s morn:

O the magnitude of mercy.

Choirs of angels summoned early,

lift the clouds o’er earth’s dark plain;

sages, shepherds, Joseph, Mary,

echo back in glad refrain:

O the magnitude of mercy.

What can match this matchless gesture?

God alone such mercy owns,

and at Christmas in a manger,

mercy to the world has shown:

O the magnitude of mercy.

Galaxies in endless order,

now proclaim this festive day.

Mine alone the gift he came for,

“In my life, Lord, have your way.”

O the magnitude of mercy.

Hymn Text © Robert Bayley

Hymn Tune: Divinum Mysterium – 12^th century Gregorian chant

(“Of the Father’s Love Begotten”)

Mercy – we think of Christmas as being about love, but it is really about love borne out of mercy: love without mercy is sentimental; mercy without love is impersonal. Mercy is a blending of love, compassion and pity on God’s part, and requires receptivity on our part in order to exist. In the sometimes lifeless vacuum that haunts our hearts and history, mercy seeks entrance, a hearing.

Reflective question: This Christmas, where do you need the magnitude of God’s mercy?

Reflective Scripture: Ephesians 2:4 -5 – “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive in Christ…”