"That We Might Lovely Be" – Br. Luke Ditewig
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Here we kneel at the tomb once more, watching, waiting, numb and grieving. We stare at love embodied and remember love received. Our song is love unknown, our Savior’s love—to you, to me—love to the loveless shown that we might lovely be.
Love shown to a woman crippled 18 years. Jesus called, healed and set her free. That we might lovely be.
Love shown to Zacchaeus. Jesus stopped beneath notorious tax-collector, looked up and said: “I’m eating with you today.” That we might lovely be.
Love shown to children. “Let the little ones come to me. Do not stop them. Act like them.” That we might lovely be.
Love shown to Lazarus. Jesus called him out from the tomb and had him unbound. That we might lovely be.
Love shown to the palm-waving crowd who sang “hosanna.” Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey not a stallion. Not a political king to topple the empire, but the founder of a new kind of kingdom. That we might lovely be.
Love shown to the disciples as they argued who would be regarded as the greatest. Jesus knelt down to serve and washed their feet. That we might lovely be.
Love shown resisting violence. Jesus said: “No more of this” and healed the one his followers struck. That we might lovely be.
Love shown to the crowds, to us who quickly turned and shouted: “Crucify!” Jesus took up the cross and bore its weight. That we might lovely be.
Love shown to all who nailed him to the tree: “Father, forgive them.” No labels. Jesus did not say forgive the soldiers, the murderers, the enemy, the crowd. Rather, gently: “Father, forgive them.” That we might lovely be.
Love shown to the least, the lost and the last at every opportunity. Jesus had compassion for the criminal hanging next to him. Bleeding, the shepherd rejoiced over one more lamb. The excited parent welcomed another child home. “Today, you will be with me in Paradise.” That we might lovely be.
Here we kneel at the tomb once more, watching, waiting, remembering love received then and now. Jesus who sees, heals, welcomes, raises, washes, forgives. Love shown to you, to me. Love nailed to the tree, and Love laid in the tomb. Now we linger with this mystery. Linger with it all week, replaying, pondering. Our song is love unknown, our Savior’s love—to you, to me— love to the loveless shown that we might lovely be.
Amen, Thank you so very much. It is such a beautiful remembrance, showing love, and that I too might lovely be.
BEAUTIFUL ! I shall read this again and again. Thank you and the brothers for these daily devotionals which are such a help to me. Blessings to you.
Thank you, Br. Luke.
Even though I am reading this a few days late on the eve of Easter, it’s a message I needed to hear today. This evening I am lonesome for the Easter morning celebration we will miss tomorrow on Zoom church. No processing with the choir into the crowded, flower bedecked church. The inspiring service, with our returning college students reading the lessons. All the families attending with grandparents. And afterwards, no elegant, extravagant coffee hour with treats galore — following the children’s Easter egg hunt in the garden, of course.
Thank you for returning my attention to the reason for all the celebrating. Especially “Love shown to the least, the lost and the last at every opportunity.”
Blessings to you,
Candace
I am going through a harrowing time right now. It takes a great effort not to lash out, not to hate back, not to just lie on my bed and weep.
But your words are helping . They remind me that,yes, all this pain is real , and all this pain can be endured and all of us can find a way to keep going and to keep loving.
Thank you, Luke.
Br. Luke -I now will sing one of my favorite hymns in a new way. Thank you. May you and all the brothers have a joyous and blessed Easter. Thank you all for your faithfulness.
As the child of a church organist, I have heard many sermons in my life…going to church 4 times weekly from childhood on. Many of them have been memorable and life-changing. This one is truly gentle and powerful. That I might lovely be. Yes! Thank you, Br. Luke. May I be lovely.
Thank you and Amen. Peace to you and all of the Brothers. Blessed Easter.
& I thought I was drained after last night’s powerful service. Tears this Easter Even morning. Thank you, Br. Luke. A blessed Easter to all at SSJE.
Br. Luke,
I left a comment back in 2013 when I first heard this and I wanted to tell you again that I still believe this is one of the most beautiful messages I’ve ever heard from any human being. I feel it very conveys perfectly and powerfully the essence of the love our Savior has for us and what He tried so desperately to teach us during His time with us on earth. I am again listening to it several times each day this week to remind myself again and again “that we might lovely be.” Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart for these beautiful and riveting words. May you, and all the brothers have a blessed Holy Week that leads to a perfect and joyous Easter. Peace.
Absolutely beautiful and perfect. Thank you. Peace be with you…