all glory, laud and honor

Today we celebrate the feast of John Mason Neale, a preist in the CofE, warden of Sackville College, and co-founder of the Sisterhood of St. Margaret. He was a sickly man, never being well enough to be a parish priest, who served the faith well. He is perhaps best known for his work of translation (the Eastern Liturgies and many ancient and medieval hymns). On of the old standbys in my collection of favorites is All Glory, Laud, and Honor. It struck me as appropriate today that we would celebrate the life and ministry of Father Neale as I reflected on verse 3 of Psalm 34, "Proclaim with me the greatness of the LORD; *let us exalt his Name together."

While it is nice to be able to listen to midi versions of some of my favorite hymns online, nothing can compare to the joy of worshiping the Lord in a community. The Psalmist is wise to seek help in proclaiming the greatness of the Lord. He may have had the direct experience about which he is writing, but without others to share his joy, it is empty.

So too it is on Palm Sunday, as we recall the joyous parade, the songs of praise, the shouts of acclamation as the one who was to be a Savior, one of much larger magnitude than the crowd could even imagine, rode in to Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. Children, the company of angels, and all the people of the Hebrews, proclaimed the greatness of the LORD that day. The whole cloud of witnesses are recorded in Theodulp of Orelans' ancient hymn, translated by Father Neale.

Proclaim with me the greatness of the LORD. Be it a random Tuesday in August or the beginning of Passiontide, to praise the Lord in community is key, it is necessary, it is a pleasure. Let us exalt his Name together. Hosanna in the Highest!