The readings today are about faithfulness. God’s faithfulness and our faithfulness. In Hebrews we read that God is faithful to us…to the faithful he gives us strength in our battles, enables us to defeat our foes and to endure any torments. And yet, we read in Hebrews and in the Psalm that God has even more in store for us than that. What more could that be? From my faith perspective, the closer we stay to Jesus, the more we learn the answer to that question.
So today when I read the lessons, my reflection turned, as it often does, to music that touches me. The hymn that came to mind is “Great is the Faithfulness.” I include two links to that hymn, one modern and one traditional that I hope you will enjoy.
But I couldn’t stop there. I was imagining what kind of call and response arrangement could be done with the Psalm today. In my church a soloist sings the verses and there is a response that the congregation sings. It is usually very lovely but not melodic, not something you would sing in a group with a piano or a guitar, which is the kind of music that sticks with me. So, as I often do, I decided to write something of my own. You don’t have to listen to my tune here, you can imagine your own. I call it “Hope of the Faithful.”
Verse 1: The Lord has great goodness in store,
For those who fear and adore,
And for those who take refuge, yes, to those who take refuge,
The Lord shows them there is much more.
Chorus:
Let your hearts take comfort, all you who hope,
Take comfort and hope in the Lord.
Let your hearts take comfort, all you who hope,
Take comfort and hope in the Lord.
Verse 2: Take shelter along the rough road.
Rest safe while within your abode.
The strife of men’s tongues, o strife of men’s tongues,
Will not be thrust on your load.
Chorus:
Verse 3: The Lord will not send you away.
His mercy surrounds where you stay.
So cry out with pleading, so cry out with pleading.
The Lord will hear you today.
Chorus:
Verse 4: For those who remain faithful in love,
The Lord also keeps constant above.
So guard against pride, yes guard against pride
Be humble and meek as a dove.
Chorus:
Let your hearts take comfort, all you who hope,
Take comfort and hope in the Lord.
Let your hearts take comfort, all you who hope,
Take comfort and hope in the Lord.
It is my prayer with you today that whatever your troubles, that you can remain faithful and can take comfort and hope in the Lord. Amen.
Barbara Dilly
I came to Creighton in 2000 and retired in 2020. My twenty years of teaching, research and service in the Jesuit tradition enhanced my own life. It was an exciting time of celebration. I loved teaching and interacting with Creighton students because they responded so eagerly to the Ignatian pedagogical emphasis on the development of the whole person. It is this spirit of whole person development and celebration of life that I hope to infuse in my reflection writings.
My academic background is eclectic, preparing me well for the Liberal Arts academic environment at Creighton. I earned my BA in World Arts and Cultures from UCLA in 1988 and my Ph.D. in Comparative Cultures from the University of California, Irvine in 1994. My research focused on rural communities in the American Midwest, Latin America, and Australia. I taught Environmental Anthropology, Qualitative Research Methods, Social and Cultural Theory, and Food Studies courses.
I retired to Shell Rock, a small rural community in Northeast Iowa where I enjoy gardening, cooking, quilting, driving my 65 Impala convertible an my 49 Willys Jeepster. I have lots of fun playing my guitars with friends from the Cedar Valley Acoustic Guitar Association. But most importantly, I am still working to make my community and rural America a better place. I host a community quilt studio and serve on the Mission Board of my church. I also serve as the Climate Committee Chair and on the Executive Board of the Center for Rural Affairs.
