A Cento for Tomorrow

A couple of weeks ago I posted a hymn text that I'd written for that Sunday in the Lectionary, the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time. As we continue in our Johannine interlude in this Markan year, I'd like to offer for your critique and potential appreciation the following text of mine. This one takes very little structure from the Psalm, and in important places (such as the first line of the last verse) takes Scripture from outside of today's readings. Also present are phrases from liturgy and Tradition, as well as a reference to a catechetical formula about the Eucharist.

On an ordinary Sunday I might prefer to omit the 2nd and 3rd verses. They are true enough but a little iffy, poetically. Their chief virtue is that they bring together this Sunday's OT references to the great figures of Moses and Elijah, and--unusually, especially in Elijah's case--bring into relief their prophetic roles of foreshadowing the Eucharist. For tomorrow, I would be inclined to use it as-is, particularly since Moses and Elijah figured prominently in last Sunday's Feast of the Transfiguration. It's not every year this Feast falls on a Sunday, and thus many in the congregation may benefit from having that particular bell rung again. A little extra liturgical resonance can be very good for the soul.

I like to sing this to ST. THOMAS (Williams). (To hear a MIDI file of this tune, simply go to www.cyberhymnal.org, click Tunes By Name, and find ST. THOMAS (Williams) under "S".)

O taste and you will see

the goodness of the Lord:
humanity, divinity,
the Body and the Blood.

God fed His wand'ring fold
with manna from the sky;
much better This than bread of old:
we eat and never die.

Elijah once was fed
when he could walk no more.
An angel brought to him that bread;
the angels This adore.

For those who would be filled
this Food is life indeed.
To give it, Life Himself was killed,
and we from death are freed.

O worthy is the Lamb,
our slain and risen Lord,
the Son of Mary, God and Man:
our Eucharist adored.