Water from the Rock
“The hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. ”
Contemporary Anthony Falbo calls his whimsical style “Cubestraction:” producing unique, complex, thought-provoking depictions of his subjects with bold color and simple composition. This is is 2009 paining, “In Jesus Name.” The central subject of the painting kneels in a church fervent prayer: his whole being woven into his supplications. Unbeknownst to him, Christ has come, and is interceding for him: his blood-red garments covering and enveloping him. And the scene is transfigured: on second glance, the rows of pews are a stairway to heaven.
So too is our experience of the graces of Lent. We confess and lean into our poverty of spirit, and find ourselves wrapped in the mercies of Christ, and lifted through them to the mercies of God once hidden from us for our suffering.
I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
— The Apostle Paul (Romans 1:16)
Third Sunday of Lent
Texts for this Week
Prayer
Heavenly Father, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you: Look with compassion upon the heartfelt desires of your servants, and purify our disordered affections, that we may behold your eternal glory in the face of Christ Jesus; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Shepherd of Souls
If a cursory search on YouTube is any indication, it would seem that James Montgomery’s 19th C hymn enjoyed a sudden and intense burst of popularity during the pandemic: becoming a favorite among virtual pandemic choirs at Anglican/Episcopal and other hymn-singing churches. It is little wonder: John Dyke’s soothing tune ST AGNUS beautifully amplifies comforting lyrics that point to the saity and satisfaction we find in our Savior: pointing us towards that Table we were so painfully alienated from during that wilderness season.
Feature video is one of the better audio productions, from the “demo choir” of the Catholic music publisher, OCP.
