Mtr Mary Trainor

What on earth did you do (for heaven’s sake?)*

Dear friend,

I’ve been searching Pandora for old-fashioned, singable hymns.

Many “old friends” live on that Voice-AI platform, I discovered. And some new-to-me ones, too.

The italicized words above form the title of one I’d never heard. And its lyrics take me straight away to Matthew 5:38-48, the Gospel selection of today’s Daily Office 

Drawn in by Johnny Cash’s singing and the jaunty little tune, I listened as each verse echoed a Gospel message: Walk another mile, give your coat and your cloak also, feed the poor in spirit.

Is the double-dose of scripture and song a message I’ve been ignoring? It just might possibly be. One thing’s for sure is that Jesus’ consistent message throughout the Gospels is that we are to help people and, if we are to err, we err on the side of more not less.

There can be risks, complications such as enabling, or being outright cheated. But over the arc of one Christian’s life, I think these risks are minimal, and are far outweighed by the good that is done.

This just might be my theme song for awhile.

Johnny Cash wrote this song. You can hear it by following the link provided. But here’s a spoiler alert: Before he sings he offers an explanation about for whom this song was written. It’s worth a listen.

—Mtr Mary

*Here’s Johnny:

https://youtu.be/FcqV_aBGoxM?si=I65_0VKhGXDYjnOK