Donne: Lord, save me

March 31, 2009
    Commemoration of John Donne, Priest, Poet, 1631

Meditation:
    [Jesus:] "He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed."
    -- Matthew 21:44 (NIV)

Quotation:
    God, who is Almighty, Alpha and Omega, First and Last, that God is also Love itself; and therefore this Love is Alpha and Omega, First and Last too. Consider Christ's proceeding with Peter in the ship, in the storm: First he suffered him to be in some danger in the storm, but then he visits him with that strong assurance, "Be not afraid, It is I:" any testimony of his presence rectifies all. This puts Peter into that spiritual confidence and courage, "Lord bid me come to thee;" he hath a desire to be with Christ, but yet stays his bidding: he puts not himself into an unnecessary danger, without commandment: Christ bids him, and Peter comes: but yet, though Christ were in his sight, and even in the actual exercise of his love to him, so soon as he saw a gust, a storm, "He was afraid;" and Christ lets him fear, and lets him sink, and lets him cry, but he directs his fear and his cry to the right end: "Lord, save me;" and thereupon he stretched forth his hand and saved him...
    God ... puts his children into good ways, and he directs and protects them in those ways; for this is the constancy and perseverence of the love of Jesus Christ to us, as he is called in this text (Matt. 21:44), a stone.
    ... John Donne (1573-1631), Sermon preached to the nobility [1619], The Works of John Donne, London: John W. Parker, 1839, vol. 5, p. 31-32. (see the book)

Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, I cannot be saved unless You do so.

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