As we go into Holy Week – from Bach’s St
Matthew Passion the bass aria Mache dich
mein Herze rein. It comes after the crucifixion, and is about the burial of
the dead body of Jesus.
Mache
dich, mein Herze, rein,
Ich
will Jesum selbst begraben.
Denn
er soll nunmehr in mir
Für
und für
Seine
süße Ruhe haben.
Welt,
geh aus, laß Jesum ein!
I would translate that as follows:
Purify
thyself O my heart,
I
will bury Jesus within myself.
For
he shall henceforth in me
For
ever and ever
Find
sweet rest.
World!
Get out! – Let Jesus in!
Offering rest and harbor to Jesus in one’s
own heart . . . protecting and enfolding him in one’s own being . . . a
movement of love.
And the miracle is that the Christ to whom
one opens in compassion and tenderness arises as Lord, bursts open the death chamber
within, makes all things new. What a seed to sow in one’s heart. Those who embrace in their hearts the death of Jesus become host to eternal life.
6 comments:
I read a lot of non-fiction books at a time -- a book in every room, so to speak. So it's taken me a long time to finish your book celebrating simplicity. As a former (and still occasional) professional organizer, I especially appreciated the way you approached the topic based on humanitarian motives. And as the leader of a tiny house church here in the US, I appreciate the spiritual approach. Thank you for that!
I quit making bread about 25 years ago when we began getting fat after acquiring a bread machine that awoke us every Saturday morning with the aroma of fresh-baked cinnamon raisin bread. But I've discovered, somewhere in the midst of reading your book on simplicity, a couple of books on 5 minute artisan bread so I'm doing that now as we gain weight. Like everything, this too must be brought under control. But I loved what you said on pages 148-9 about losing "treats" when we have them all the time so something bigger and better must be found to function as a treat. THAT is where I want to go with bread. Thank you for that, too!
And... as long as I've got your attention, I'm reading your Lenten book and oh my. It makes me cry just thinking about the way you have opened my heart even more. Yes -- THAT is my Jesus! Thank you ever so much for that!
And the Hawk and the Dove series -- I'm re-reading through them slowly (finished book 2 in October, hope to get to book 3 soon because I didn't know of the existence of 4-6 until just recently and now see that I can't even buy #7) because I write and need to focus on my own imaginary worlds -- they are just lovely!!! I think I bought the first book at a clearance sale at a Christian bookstore that no longer exists. But it blessed me so much I ordered (long before Amazon) the other two and have been re-reading and sharing them with my adult children and will soon read them aloud to my grandchildren like I did to my children ages ago. So... I am about 20,000 words into my second novel and once it's finished I'll take a much needed break and read #3 and perhaps #4 as well. An amazing series. Thank you so much for that!
I have two other books of yours too -- haven't gotten to them yet but I will.
Interesting thought on your blog this month (I think) about eating better because you're getting old. That struck me just yesterday as I was coming inside from the back yard. This bread thing is lovely, and I add sprouted wheat flour to the mix. But it needs to be a treat. Or be turned into a meal. The Marghereta pizza in those books is amazing. And it's just small enough so I have to add a good salad to make it a full meal. Perfect. And yes, the pizza sauce they recommend -- just tomatoes cooked alone into a sauce with nothing added but sprinkle it with a bit of salt -- is perfect. I'm such a pizza fan, this has been a good thing. Homemade pizza without all the chemicals and whiteners and brighteners and fake cheese. God is such an awesome lover to us.
Blessings to you!
Stevie Ann Allen
Hello, Stevie Ann! How lovely to meet you.
What a happy-making, encouraging communication. Blessed the bamboo socks off me. Hugs to you!
Coupla things.
Thing one - The Hawk and the Dove books 7 and 8 are out now, and Book 9 follows in the summer. Right now 7 and 8 are up on Amazon UK but not yet on US Amazon - but they will be in a month or so. By the time you've moseyed through the others, they'll be there. I do hope you enjoy reading the stories and getting to know the brothers.
Thing two - in our house, recently, we have been eating Deliciously Ella's super bread. Fab. Delicioso. Highly recommended and super healthy. Here ~ http://deliciouslyella.com/almond-quinoa-pumpkin-seed-bread/
A blessed Holy Week and a very happy Easter to you. Thank you friend; you made me happy today. x
Thank you! That recipe looks really good. I'm a big fan of pumpkin seeds in just about anything -- keep a jar of mostly ground up ones in my freezer.
I'm so excited about the new books -- yay!!!
Your books make me happy a lot. I was just returning the favor. :-)
:0)
xx
I played this video during our worship service this morning. Wow. Feeling very grateful for the gifts given to Bach and others. They've enriched our lives.
:0)
It is a wonderful aria. x
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