This isn't a typo in the UM Hymnal. In the 6th verse of O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing, the word is "own" and not "owe." When we receive God's love that is there for the taking, Charles Wesley suggests that "we then shall know, shall feel our sins forgiven." God's love is an anticipation of what is to come.
Owning God's love for myself is life-long, not just once and for all. We are created to love and be loved. It will always be deep source of wonder and joy that God's love for us is at the beginning and the end- and beyond the end.
We will know as we are known, love as we are loved. But not yet. St. Theresa of Avila confessed to God that although she did not love God, she wanted to love God. I cannot love as God loves. The only hope of growing in love to others is in owning God's love. We love because God first loved us. I John 4:19
The hymn O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing doesn't make sense until we understand that its title and first line come from one of Peter Bohler's expressions, "Had I a thousand tongues, I would praise him with them all!" Bohler was the Moravian spiritual guide of the Wesleys. This morning's updated rendition sung by the Chapelwood Wesley Choir was outstanding!
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| Loving Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, break forth into our lives- heal the world we share and make for others |
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