“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” Matthew 5:4
As more and more years pass by, it seems that reading obituaries have become a regular occurrence in my weekly routine. Attending funerals, not so much since we’ve been sheltering in place. Sad to say, but mourning is taking on a different feeling these days. I rejoice as the obituaries tell of a departed soul who knew Jesus Christ, loved Jesus Christ and rejoiced as they were going to meet their Savior.
The attached photo is of a Hospital in Port-au-Prince, and this compound near Croix-de-Bouquet has seen its share of suffering and mourning since the earthquake in January 2010 and again will be busy with COVID 19. Lives that came in through the gate following the quake were crushed and broken and were never the same. Today, bodies with fever and struggling to breathe will be brought to the hospital in many different forms of transit.
The hymn ‘Stricken, smitten and afflicted’ brings to mind the condition of so many in Haiti who survived the quake and are struggling today, so many of us who are reaching an age where our final day seems to be drawing closer and also and more importantly the passion that our Savior endured for us. This hymn was first written around 1850 by Geistliche Volkslieder and was sung to the German tune “O Mein Jesu, Ich Muss Sterben.”
“Stricken, smitten, and afflicted, see him dying on the tree! This is Christ, by man rejected; here, my soul, your Savior see. He’s the long expected prophet, David’s son, yet David’s Lord. Proofs I see sufficient of it: He’s the true and faithful Word. Tell me, all who hear him groaning, was there ever grief like this? Friends through fear his cause disowning, foes insulting his distress; many hands were raised to wound him, none would intervene to save; but the deepest stroke that pierced him was the stroke that justice gave. “You who think of sin but lightly nor suppose the evil great, here may view its nature rightly, here its guilt may estimate. Mark the sacrifice appointed; see who bears the awful load; it’s the Word, the Lord’s Anointed, Son of Man and son of God. Here we have a firm foundation; here the refuge of the lost; Christ, the rock of our salvation, His the name of which we boast. Lamb of God, for sinners wounded, sacrifice to cancel guilt! None shall ever be confounded who on him their hope have built.”
Our lives go on, until that moment when we all will draw our last breath and are in the arms of our Savior. Thank you for sharing your time and talents with the children in Haiti who bring Jesus Christ to the lost still living in Haiti; still awaiting the news of the Savior, the Lord’s anointed.
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you…Jay