Here’s a playlist.
For those of you who want to shout out, “Hallelujah, Jesus is Risen!” Here’s a few different ways of singing those words…
And most important of all, have a great day. Meet with others and enjoy the reality of having a fresh start, thanks to Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Earlier I mentioned the Lent Cross Challenge promoted by the Diocese of Bath and Wells. Each day, throughout the Lent season I have shared a new song generated by the prompt given for scriptural mediation.
It has been an interesting experience. Some of the songs have certainly helped me express my thoughts as I’ve considered the meanings of the Bible verses and their direct relevance to my own life. Here’s a link to the playlist.
As I’ve mentioned before, I’m not the only person who has been using AI-generated music as an aid to focus my thoughts on the meaning of Lent. There are even people on Suno who have been faithfully posting a daily song to accompany the Bible reading plan they’ve been following.
It’s a day of mixed emotions with so much to unpack. The name comes from Jesus’ mandate – a new commandment: to love one another. We have foot-washing: the master is the servant. The last supper with predictions of Jesus’ betrayal. Prayer at Gethsemane, Jesus’ arrest and trial, then finally the cock crows and we know how deeply our failure has run.
How do you capture all that in a song?
I like how Washed Feet and Heavy Hearts came together in expressing some of this:
[Verse 1]
Feet in hands bowed low and humble
Echoes of a love so true
Servant’s heart beats out the thunder
In a room of mixed up views
[Verse 2]
Bravado walks on shaky ground
Lips that laugh but hearts are torn
One of twelve to weave the crown
Betrayal’s breath on hope is sworn
[Chorus]
Washed feet and heavy hearts
Grace in the face of falling stars
Boundless love still lights the dark
When faith is found in Jesus’ scars
[Verse 3]
Tables set for bread and wine
Yet shadows cast by hidden fear
Promises of soul divine
Shattered when the dawn is near
[Verse 4]
Silent whispers of what’s true
A Kiss to break our holy ties
Love that’s denied in shades of blue
Fading as the rooster cries
[Chorus]
Washed feet and heavy hearts
Grace in the face of falling stars
Boundless love still lights the dark
When faith is found in Jesus’ scars
The song was originally generated as the 13th song in my suite of songs following the chapters of John’s Gospel. It pairs well with The Arrest in the Garden – another song from the same suite.
However, for those who prefer a rock ballad style the musical style of Denial’s Edge from my Luke’s Gospel suite might be more to your taste. All of these are in my Holy Week playlist.
Yes, there’s a playlist!
We begin this week with Palm Sunday, but beneath all the rejoicing that the king is here, there’s a deeper, darker undercurrent. We know Jesus has to die.
To a corrupt establishment, it’s a necessary political expedience. They tell us we cannot afford the luxury of a populist iconoclast who, if left unchecked, would overturn their comfortable status quo.
It’s worth exploring musically.