Here is my hymn text for the Fifth Sunday of Lent in the B Cycle of the Roman Catholic three-year Sunday lectionary cycle. (I treat the alternative set of readings in the A Cycle.) I look forward to readers\u2019 suggestions for changes in word choice, rhyme scheme, progress of thought, and hymn-tune pairing.<\/p>\n
Hymn of the Day for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, Year B<\/p>\n
A single grain of wheat
\nWhen buried in the earth
\nGives us no sign through winter weeks
\nOf its impending birth.
\nYet with the rains of spring
\nNew grains are brought to life
\nAs roots uncurl and stalks unfurl
\nAnd reach up to the light.<\/p>\n
A single human life
\nOnce sojourned Galilee
\nAnd heralded God\u2019s kingdom come
\nIn mighty words and deeds.
\nYet though he died condemned,
\nConsigned among the dead,
\nHe lives and reigns through ev\u2019ry age
\nThe Church\u2019s Lord and Head.<\/p>\n
A single act of love
\nMay seem too weak a force
\nTo overcome the centuries
\nOf vi\u2019lence and remorse.
\nYet ev\u2019ry act of love
\nBears with it God\u2019s own grace,
\nAnd those who give themselves to Love
\nBecome God\u2019s chosen race.<\/p>\n
Great God of covenant,
\nCome claim us as your own
\nAnd write your law within our hearts
\nAnd lead your people home.
\nWe pray, transforming God,
\nAs Christ, with cries and tears,
\nThat you would draw us up through death
\nTo life beyond our fears.<\/p>\n
66.86.D. SMD.<\/p>\n
Suggested Hymn Tune: TERRA PATRIS\/TERRA BEATA (ELW #824)
\nAlternative Hymn Tune:<\/p>\n
Fr. Jan Michael Joncas
\nSt. Paul, MN
\n21-23 February 2012<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Here is my hymn text for the Fifth Sunday of Lent in the B Cycle of the Roman Catholic three-year Sunday lectionary cycle. I look forward to readers\u2019 suggestions for changes in word choice, rhyme scheme, progress of thought, and hymn-tune pairing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[91,22],"tags":[1841,1889],"class_list":["post-13621","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-liturgical-year","category-music-hymns","tag-hymn-of-the-day","tag-lent-5b"],"yoast_head":"\n