Risen with healing in his wings
Rev’d Rob Anning writes: OK. I know what you are thinking. Here is the proof that Rob Anning has finally “lost it”. Writing about a Christmas carol at Easter.
Well, you may be right (that is about losing it!) but while our hymn choice for Easter will come mainly from 186 to 214 in Hymns and Psalms, I think that one of Charles Wesley’s best comments on what Easter is all about is found in his Christmas carol “Hark! The herald angels sing”.
Wesley’s hymn was first published in 1739 in the form of ten four line verses, of which the present carol in Hymns and Psalms, number 106, has three eight-line verses. Read it through for yourself.
As you might expect with Charles Wesley, his hymns are filled with direct, or almost direct, quotations from scripture. In the case of the fourth line in the third verse, Wesley writes: “Risen with healing in his wings” which comes from Malachi 4 verse 2: “For you who fear my name, the Son of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture”.
So, when you consider those words, I would want to argue that the work of God which began with incarnation at the birth of Jesus, is completed with his resurrection at Easter time.
Whether we reflect on our own lives with our failings, or various situations around the world such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Israel, Palestine, the need for healing, the need for the spread of peace, the need for re-connection with God, is just as important now as it was in the day when Malachi writes, or at the time of Jesus’ birth, or at the time of Charles Wesley’s hymn writing.
So this Easter, as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, may we be confident in the love and grace of God, and go free, leaping with joy, at what he has done for each of us.