A Wideness in God’s Mercy

On Easter Sunday evening a “Songs of Praise” service in which members of the congregation introduced favourite hymns was held. Joan Mates chose hymn number 662, from Hymns Old and New: “There’s a wideness in God’s mercy”. Here is her introduction.

At our Kneeler group we were discussing hymns for this service. We thought they needed to be appropriate for the day. I then started telling them about how much this hymn means to me. At first I thought it didn’t really fit the criterion of an Easter Hymn. But then I realised that, as it is all about God’s love, of course it is appropriate for Easter.

I got excited because I thought I could get this sung, as I have never sung it! I got a bit worried thinking it didn’t fit in with today’s great celebration. Then it dawned on me that the whole of my love of God is all because of his great love for me. He loved me so much that he gave his life for me. And so of course a hymn about God’s love is infinitely suitable.

One Sunday evening I was watching Songs of Praise. I don’t often watch this and I know for certain I really should be in church at this time. As the words for this hymn were sung and written across the bottom of the screen. I shouted up to Eric to bring a hymn book down as I was so bowled over by the words that I really did want to remember what it was called. I wrote the title down and Eric brought me his hymn book. I just sat then taking in the lovely words.

I realise that own my religion was put into words by this writer, F.W. Faber, who had lived between 1814 and 1863. Many times I think I make my religion too easy, because I think all my belief is found on one thing LOVE, the Love God has for me, for us and for our world and our universe. Make no mistake, I say my religion is easy, but the responsibility it brings is overwhelming (only with God’s grace can I even contemplate it).

I have used the hymn in meditation, especially the following lines:

….No place where earth’s sorrows are more felt than up in heaven

….We magnify his strictness with a zeal he will not own

….A kindness in his justice which is more than liberty

….Grace enough for thousands of new worlds as great as this

And my very favourite:

…..We make his love too narrow by false limits of our own.

My prayer tonight is for grace to show and share just something of this great LOVE in my daily life. Let us live our lives in the joy of Christ our Lord. Now the tune of this hymn is unknown to me but then I am not a singer and I am not musical. But the words of this hymn are music to my soul.

Joan Mates

June 2006