Hymn Reflections

Songs stick with us.  For instance, if you hear MC Hammer’s “U Can’t Touch This” on a 1990’s music review show, it is quite likely that it will run through your head at least a few times before it goes away.  And, maybe you are thanking me now because you have a little “Hammer Time” stuck in your head after simply reading that first sentence.  The point is, music has an impact and it sticks with us.

Just this week, I talked with my Spiritual Director about the impact of music and hymns in our lives (not about MC Hammer).  And, I must say that hymns don’t get as much credit as sermons often do.  While I have had wonderful pastors over the years, I don’t recall a sermon that I could quote or sing in the shower. Although sermons are not repeated like hymns are often repeated, we choose to return to certain music and hymns over the years.  If we look at the New Testament, we are told that Jesus and his Disciples sang songs after the Last Supper.  Somehow I think we have a tendency to skip right over this reminder of song and return to our seats after we take the bread and the cup but indeed, they sang:

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take and eat. This is my body.”  He took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from this, all of you.   This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many so that their sins may be forgiven.  I tell you, I won’t drink wine again until that day when I drink it in a new way with you in my Father’s kingdom.”  Then, after singing songs of praise, they went to the Mount of Olives (Matthew 26:26-30 CEB).

I just completed a weekend class to re-new my lay speaking certification in my denomination, the United Methodist Church.  The course I took part in was called “Accountable Discipleship”.  We discussed what it means to be God’s people today and what it looks like to live in this world as a disciple.  As we concluded our time together, we gathered for a short service and sang some hymns as part of our commissioning.  One of those songs we sang today was one I remember from childhood.  It was definitely not by MC Hammer but by William J. Gaither called, “He Touched Me”: 

Shackled by a heavy burden 
'Neath a load of guilt and shame 
Then the hand of Jesus touched me 
And now I am no longer the same. 
He touched me, oh He touched me 
And oh the joy that floods my soul 
Something happened and now I know 
He touched me and made me whole. 
Since I met this blessed Savior 
Since He cleansed and made me whole 
I will never cease to praise Him 
I'll shout it while eternity rolls. 
He touched me, oh He touched me 
And oh the joy that floods my soul 
Something happened and now I know 
He touched me and made me whole...

This hymn makes me think about my childhood and singing off key from the pews at the top of my lungs.  It makes me think about not fully understanding the lyrics but knowing from a young age that God wanted to carry my burdens and be present in my life.  Today this hymn means healing and wholeness.  It reminds me that when we allow God to touch us in our lives today, then and only then, can we be made whole.  

When we pause to let this song resonate and try to let our heavy burdens fall away, we can allow Jesus to heal us and make us whole.  I think it really is possible to find healing today; it just isn't what we expect it to look like.  But, let’s be honest, sometimes on that journey toward healing, we don’t even want God to “touch this”.  We do everything we can to keep him away from touching us deep in our souls.  This hymn is reminding us through song to let God have the power to touch us and in that comes the joy that floods our souls!  Oh, the joy those Disciples must have experienced.  Only God can touch us in a place that resonates this way in our souls today.  Only he can touch me and make me whole.  Only he can touch you and make you whole. God is with us long after we’ve forgotten the meaning of the hymn and yet can’t forget the tune.  Let's work on getting this tune stuck in our heads.  This is one reminder that I can surely stand to hear over and over again.

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