At the memorial service to Queen Elizabeth II on Friday evening in St Paul’s cathedral, a few traditional hymns were sung that are probably not so well known to many. So, I thought I’d share them with a few reflections. One of them was “O Thou who camest from above” by Charles Wesley.
The lyrics are
O thou who camest from above
the fire celestial to impart,
kindle a flame of sacred love
on the mean altar of my heart!
2 There let it for thy glory burn
with inextinguishable blaze,
and trembling to its source return
in humble prayer and fervent praise.
3 Jesus, confirm my heart’s desire
to work, and speak, and think for thee;
still let me guard the holy fire,
and still stir up the gift in me.
4 Ready for all thy perfect will,
my acts of faith and love repeat;
till death thy endless mercies seal,
and make the sacrifice complete.
The words were a fitting choice given what we have had Queen Elizabeth say about her belief both in duty and service and in her often speaking about Jesus Christ as saviour.
The imagery of love for God as a fire that continuously burns in our hearts so that we become living sacrifices offering prayer and praise draws its imagery from two places. First, we are reminded of Paul’s instructions in Romans 12
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.
And so lead into the later reading used at the Thanksgiving service about our concern to prefer the needs of others. Note that the desire expressed to live faithfully followed, for Wesley from God’s grace to us in salvation. It is because of Christ’s incarnation, death and resurrection (the one who came from above) that our hearts are set afire with love.
The other image at work in the hymn is of Pentecost. Because Jesus came, died, rose and ascended, the Holy Spirit was sent and we remember how at Pentecost, there was the visible sign of tongues of fire resting on the heads of those gathered. A life of love and service for Christ is a life filled with the Holy Spirit.
May our prayer today be
Jesus, confirm my heart’s desire
to work, and speak, and think for thee;
still let me guard the holy fire,
and still stir up the gift in me.
Faithroots 