LAUDA SION

New Zealand Tablet, 3 July 1919, Page 13

LAUDA SION

(For the N..Z. Tablet.)

Thy Saviour Sion now adore . . Thy Shepherd, Leader, and much more: In hymns and canticles and; praise., Dare praise with all thy might and main ; The theme is far beyond the strain Of utmost power in all thy lays. The theme to-day before thee spread— The ..Bread of Life, the Living Bread—- •-.• Proposed is; in specialty. Which on the Sacred Supper's night . - To all the Twelve was giv'n outright *-. ~ Without an ambiguity. Sonorous be thy joyful song And decorous, and likewise strong The jubilation of thy mind. For on this solemn day we meet That table's memory to greet, Tremendous and so wondrous kind. Encouraged by our sacred laws, We venture without making pause, The saving Host to consecrate. What at the supper Jesus did, That very thing to do we're bid, His own self to commemorate. For Christians is this dogma ranged— Into His Flesh the bread is changed, : Into His precious Blood the wine. You see not nor can understand. But you believe at Faith's command : Not Nature's order, but Divine. Two kinds make test of fealty. But signs they are, not realty ! The realty is hidden thus. The food is Flesh, the drink is Blood, In each it is well understood, Christ all Himself remains with us. Receiving, we nor break nor mar, Completion is without a bar, We always eat the unbroken whole. With thousands eating or but one, The same share each and all have won, Christ living in all sound and sole. The good approach and eke the bad, With varying outcome to be had, 'Twixt bliss or bale. O difference great! The good draw life, the wicked death. -■-,'-" Mark well the contrast that one breath Can make in widely : varying fate;!. ? /;.L ; If broken be the outward sign, • -. -< n? f ; ;\j Thy soul to Faith no less resign, ... And see in each fragment divine -..,-. ..* The whole . great , realty adored. ~...-.' n < No part of that is cast aside, The sign alone is opened wide ;l s ? No stature -jj shrunk, no „ status tried, -sb'h.&i r/f.f*i-Not. even threat unto .the L0rd. 4,3 sxs

« This is the very angels' bread, -"'"•• The: only food where travellers tread, ~~ 1 And sons: of '.God are nourished : ,J^"-^'T | To dogs by ho means'to be thrown. '"— § c *^W;fi ; > ft i, W 1. ■ /" | In figures it has often been ; ; In Isaac's sacrifice .'twas seen; j-j . | In Paschal lamb, there shone its sheen; 1 And manna to our fathers sti-own. 1 Good Shepherd! Thou the Bread of Life, § - Our Jesus/save: us in the strife, . t . Feed . and protect in dangers rife, _ !l ' Admit us -all, both man and wife, To God's Own Land, "Land of the Leal." | Whose' care it is to all appraise, : With food and grace to : here upraise, 1 There make us all co-heirs, 'in praise, ""-••" ;■ "" Fellow-guests at Thy Table's blaze," ........ ..With Holy citizens ■■ in weal. "t- ? V*V*£ £ff If ? . Amen. 'Alleluia !*" ?= ' \ —R;A.L.