Third Sunday in Lent (Oculi)

Paul Gerhardt: Hymns, Life and Comfort

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As the season of Lent goes on, we start singing some of the most theologically deep hymns in the hymnal that tell the story of Jesus’ Passion, death, and resurrection.

Our hymn of the week, “A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth,” written by Paul Gerhardt, exemplifies this as the author reflects on Jesus's humble obedience in going to the cross for us.

But when you know more of the story behind the hymn’s author, the hymn begins to speak to the one singing it more deeply. Paul Gerhardt was born in 1607 and died in 1676. He was a theologian and pastor in Germany when being a Lutheran was difficult. He lived through the Thirty Year’s War, where between 4.5 and 8 million soldiers and citizens died. It’s said that parts of Germany lost half of their population during this time.

Because Gerhardt refused to abandon his faith in the Lutheran Church, he was compelled to leave his position as a pastor in Berlin and move south to Lubben. Gerhardt was married with five children; however, his wife died, as well as four of his children, in their early years of life. The life of Gerhardt was hard. You can hear this in the hymns he wrote, but also, you can hear an unwavering faith in Christ Jesus, His death, and resurrection.

While your lives are difficult, ponder the hymns of Paul Gerhardt, who wrote only 134 of them, and express a constant faith in Jesus throughout the ups and downs of life, knowing your salvation has already been won.

On Gerhardt’s tombstone, it reads,
“Paul Gerhardt, a theologian sifted in Satan’s sieve, and afterward found faithful.”

As you journey through this Lenten season and life, don’t give in to the temptations of the devil or the hardships of this life; remain focused on Christ, and he will find you faithful and bring you into His eternal presence. And if you should begin to feel overwhelmed or come to the belief no one understands your lot in life, pick up your hymnal and sing one of Gerhardt’s hymns – he gets you. And more importantly - Christ gets you.

Your unworthy undershepherd,
Pastor Rogness

Paul Gerhardt Hymns in the Lutheran Service Book: 334, 360, 372, 375, 438, 453, 467, 596, 683, 724, 726, 737, 754, 756, 880, 977