Our Morning Offering – 29 March – The Fifth Sunday of Lent
“Here I Am, Lord”
By Daniel Schutte
I, the Lord of sea and sky
I have heard My people cry
All who dwell in dark and sin
My Hand will save.
I, who made the stars of night
I will make their darkness bright
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night
I will go, Lord, if You lead me
I will hold Your people in my heart.
I, the Lord of snow and rain
I have borne My people’s pain
I have wept for love of them
They turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone
Give them hearts for love alone
Who will speak My word to them
Whom shall I send?
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night
I will go, Lord, if You lead me
I will hold Your people in my heart.
I, the Lord of wind and flame
I will tend the poor and lame
I will set a feast for them
My hand will save.
Finest bread I will provide
‘Til their hearts be satisfied
I will give My life to them
Whom shall I send?
Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night
I will go, Lord, if You lead me
I will hold Your people in my heart.
Daniel Schutte is an American composer of Catholic liturgical music and a contemporary Christian songwriter best known for composing the hymn “Here I Am, Lord” (1981, also incorrectly known as “I, the Lord of Sea and Sky”) and over 150 popular hymns and Mass settings.
Mr Schutte said the positive reception of “Here I Am, Lord” has continued consistently since the song’s premiere in 1979 and its publication in 1981. He even has a file of letters he has received praising the song. One of his favorites came from an army captain serving in Afghanistan.
The captain wrote that the troops would gather in a field for Mass, near where they were fighting and their chaplain would lead them in singing “Here I Am, Lord.” The servicemen and women who had grown up with the song could all sing it by heart.
“We stand here in this awful place, where we are asked to serve our country but fear for our own lives and we sing ‘Here I Am, Lord,’”
I asked Mr Schutte how he reacts when he receives personal, emotional letters like these.
“There’s a whole constellation of feelings that surround it for me,” he said. “I feel so grateful that God seems to have chosen that song to accompany people through so many moments of their life…. I didn’t plan that. I didn’t know that the song was going to be special. I’m very aware that God is doing something beyond me when I get those letters from people…. It’s also very humbling because it’s something way, way far beyond what I can do.”
A great story of the circumstances surrounding the writing of this most wonderful and emotive Hymn.
AnaStpaul 