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Fairest Lord Jesus (UM Hymnal #189)
I had an experience I will never forget. It happened at church when I was 21 years old, after moving to a new town. As the worship began and the choir's hymn started, I felt like I was captivated, unable to move my body. The hymn, Fairest Lord Jesus, with its lyrics, the conductor's expression, and the choir's beautiful harmony, deeply captivated me.
Since then, meditating on each line of that hymn has become my prayer. Even now, when I sing or listen to that hymn, it inspired me with the same excitement I felt at that first moment. I visited that church every week, not because of the pastor's sermon, but because of the song played by the choir. It was astonishing how a single hymn could move and influence me like that and how a small-town church choir could produce such heavenly sounds.
The capacity to make beautiful sounds with human voices, and the wonder of the harmony all of those sounds produce, are so amazing and mysterious. God wove the beauty of each sound to reflect God’s own beauty. I myself still feel that beauty while singing that song.
Living in a world of so much ugliness, suffering and meanness, the beautiful sound of music and deep confession of words save us from all the confusions. Jesus is more precious, more beautiful, more glorious than anything else in the world. "Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor, Thou my soul's glory, joy, and crown." The song has purified my blemished soul, healed my wounded soul, and energized my tired soul. Therefore, may I ever be willing to confess Jesus as my "Fairest Lord Jesus." May God “weave beauty into you to reflect God’s own beauty,” when you sing your hymns. (Thomas Aquinas) May you “be saved by beauty of the (fairest Jesus).”(Dostoyevsky)
Reflection and Prayer: Fairest Lord Jesus
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdNASJDwvAU
Fairest Lord Jesus, ruler of all nature,
O thou of God and man the Son,
Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor,
thou, my soul's glory, joy, and crown
Fair are the meadows, fairer still the woodlands,
robed in the blooming garb of spring:
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer
who makes the woeful heart to sing.
Fair is the sunshine, fairer still the moonlight,
and all the twinkling starry host: Jesus shines brighter,
Jesus shines purer than all the angels heaven can boast.
Beautiful Savior! Lord of all the nations!
Son of God and Son of Man! Glory and honor,
praise, adoration, now and forevermore be thine.
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