For The Healing Of The Nations

I have always liked Holst's music "The Planet Suite" - especially Jupiter - and the part which is well known as the hymn tune Thaxted. But I have never been comfortable with the words of "I vow to thee my country". Somehow I feel that unquestioning sacrifice on behalf of the nation is not a good thing. And the last verse [There's another country...] is misquoting the Bible in implying it is about heaven - in fact the gentleness and peace verse in  Proverbs is all about wisdom. So I was really pleased to hear the hymn below on Sunday Worship [BBC Radio 4] last week. It was written by an American, in response to the events of  Tiananmen Square Massacre  35 years ago

Let streams of living justice flow down upon the earth;
give freedom’s light to captives, let all the poor have worth.
The hungry’s hands are pleading, the workers claim their rights,
the mourners long for laughter, the blinded seek for sight.
Make liberty a beacon, strike down the iron power;
abolish ancient vengeance: proclaim your people’s hour.

For healing of the nations, for peace that will not end,
for love that makes us lovers, God grant us grace to mend.
Weave our varied gifts together; knit our lives as they are spun;
on your loom of time enrol us till our thread of life is run.
O great weaver of our fabric, bind church and world in one;
dye our texture with your radiance, light our colours with your sun.

Your city’s built to music; we are the stones you seek;
your harmony is language; we are the words you speak.
Our faith we find in service, our hope in others’ dreams,
our love in hand of neighbour; our homeland brightly gleams.
Inscribe our hearts with justice; your way—the path untried;
your truth—the heart of stranger; your life—the Crucified.

Words: William Whitla (b. 1934) – Music: Thaxted (Gustav Holst, 1874-1934)

I think the words are great [not surprisingly, verse 2 resonates especially with me, all the fabric references!] On the subject of justice, I was thrilled to read the good news about Nelson Shardey this week. A real answer to prayer

I hope you enjoy this hymn too!

UPDATE just picked up the news from the USA. Praying for peace and justice there especially this morning.