|
On this national holiday, between the barbecues and fireworks, let's take some time to recall Emma Lazarus' poem inscribed on the base of the Statue of Liberty, offering a haven, a refuge, for the burdened and battered. In the video below (scroll to the bottom of the post), Irving Berlin provides a musical setting for these beautiful words from Lazarus' poem:
Give me your tired, your poor,Do these words remind you, as they do me, of a more ancient text?
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.
At least at this one point, Christ and Lady Liberty share a common, open heart.Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light. (Matthew 11:28-30)
 |
| Image source |
If a video doesn't appear below, click here!
Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door.
Let's pause and pray...
Lord, open wide my heart
to welcome any
who've been turned out,
turned aside and turned away:
in my family, in my neighborhood
where I work and 'round the world...
May the light of my words and deeds
lift high a lamp of welcome
and my heart provide a place
of rest and comfort
for the weary and heavy burdened...
Let my heart open wide for others, Lord,
as your heart opens wide for me...
Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please THINK before you write
and PRAY before you think!