Prepared for Death
I look forward to caring for the sick and dying. Those days we receive the call to visit a member are a blessing. To an outsider, this appears foolish. Counseling those who suffer under fleshy torments exhausts the mind. My own flesh is weakened when I provide this care. Yet, I look forward to every opportunity. Why? When the rubber meets the road, our faith is about pardon for our sins, atoned for by the Son of God. Under this gracious gift, the Christian can suffer pain, knowing these wages for our sin no longer lead to death and eternal hell. They are consequences for sin, true, but they don't end with a hellish death. Death is the ultimate consequence for sin. Christ has won victory over the grave and it no longer carries the curse of eternal torment. Sharing the good news of forgiveness is the best balm for the woes of the sick and dying. Too often this forgiveness is spoken without its necessary counterpart, the Law. The sick and dying get it. They know the Law for it torments both their body and soul. When I have the good pleasure of a visit, I witness the goodness of God's love provide the healing to the wounds wrought by the knife of the Law. Gospel care for those in great need of body and soul is the ultimate end of the pastoral ministry. Jesus himself brought this same forgiveness for boy and soul in torment under the Law. Sins are absolved. Souls are healed. And the Christian can go to heaven in peace. (Pr. Christopher Hall has an excellent post on this care and the necessity of proper hymnody. I gave me pause to reflect on my experiences with caring for an elderly man who recently died. In my final visit, I reflected upon the text to Gerhard's Holy Week hymn "O Sacred Head, Now Wounded" provided in CPH's Spiritual Care Companion. When I shared these words, the man who was in great pain and largely unresponsive looked at me and held my hand above the bed to indicate he heard the words and was thankful. What great care do the meditations of the Word of God in a hymn bring!)
"O Sacred Head, Now Wounded" by Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676 1. O sacred Head, now wounded, With grief and shame weighed down, Now scornfully surrounded With thorns, Thine only crown. O sacred Head, what glory, What bliss, till now was Thine! Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine. 2. Men mock and taunt and jeer Thee, Thou noble countenance, Though mighty worlds shall fear Thee And flee before Thy glance. How art thou pale with anguish, With sore abuse and scorn! How doth Thy visage languish That once was bright as morn! 3. Now from Thy cheeks has vanished Their color, once so fair; From Thy red lips is banished The splendor that was there. Grim Death, with cruel rigor, Hath robbed Thee of Thy life; Thus Thou has lost Thy vigor, Thy strength, in this sad strife. 4. My burden in Thy Passion, Lord, Thou hast borne for me, For it was my transgression Which brought this woe on thee. I cast me down before Thee, Wrath were my rightful lot; Have mercy, I implore Thee; Redeemer, spurn me not! 5. My Shepherd, now receive me; My Guardian, own me Thine. Great blessings Thou didst give me, O Source of gifts divine! Thy lips have often fed me With words of truth and love, Thy Spirit oft hath led me To heavenly joys above. 6. Here I will stand beside Thee, From Thee I will not part; O Savior, do not chide me! When breaks Thy loving heart, When soul and body languish In death's cold, cruel grasp, Then, in Thy deepest anguish, Thee in mine arms I'll clasp. 7. The joy can ne'er be spoken, Above all joys beside, When in Thy body broken I thus with safety hide. O Lord of life, desiring Thy glory now to see, Beside Thy cross expiring, I'd breathe my soul to Thee. 8. What language shall I borrow To thank Thee, dearest Friend, For this, Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end? Oh, make me thine forever! And should I fainting be, Lord, let me never, never, Outlive my love for Thee. 9. My Savior, be Thou near me When death is at my door; Then let Thy presence cheer me, Forsake me nevermore! When soul and body languish, Oh, leave me not alone, But take away mine anguish By virtue of Thine own! 10. Be Thou my Consolation, My Shield when I must die; Remind me of Thy Passion When my last hour draws nigh. Mine eyes shall then behold Thee, Upon Thy cross shall dwell, My heart by faith enfold Thee. Who dieth thus dies well! The Lutheran Hymnal Hymn #172 Text: Is. 50: 6 Author: Paul Gerhardt Based on the Latin poem "Salve caput cruentatum" By Bernard of Clairvaux, 1153, asc. Translated by: composite Titled: O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden Composer: Hans L. Hassier, 1601 Tune: Herzlich tut mich
