There is balm in Gilead, To make the wounded whole; There’s power enough in heaven, To cure a sin-sick soul.

Those are the lyrics of an American Spiritual, and as so often occurs when desperation and hope meet, they speak to us powerfully.  Let us, here in Cor Unum, not spoil our chances at life through any false idea, that we need nothing or that we have nothing.  Here in this monastery, we need Jesus, gloriously, and we have Him, eternally.  Even when our souls are made sick by irremedial loss or by the sin of others, there is a Balm in Gilead.

Cor Unum is making specially welcome those left alone in the world, yet who among us has not known loneliness or bereavement or blistering grief and loss?  Close friends move away, jobs come to an end, children grow up and leave home, dreams die on the vine, and death does not hold back forever.  Always, what did the saints of old do in response?  It’s what the saints of today do.  Just as barren Hannah prayed in the temple and poured out her heart to God,  as Joseph remained faithful when cruelly betrayed and as Ruth returned alone with Naomi to Israel, a foreigner and a young widow, we will trust, we will hope, we cry out, we believe.  Many have known tremendous loss, tremendous sorrow and grief, but hope does not disappoint.  (Romans 5:5)  Here in the monastery of our hearts, even the most wounded hearts, hope does not disappoint.

What’s more, when it is Christ we want, above all, Christ Jesus we shall have.  With Him, all things are ours.  (1 Corinthians 3:21, 22)  This, dear ones, is the monastic advantage.  We have one desire.  We are alive for God, we want His will above and apart from anything more.  The Father gave His Son, and with Him, He gives us all things.  (Romans 8:32)  In this Abbey, it is our strong desire never to doubt such a promise as this.

No matter the depth of our grief or the extent of our loss, we will not withhold our love from God.  We need Him, and we have Him.  All things, even grief, will find their summation and purpose in Jesus Christ.   Our business, in this Abbey, is to hold on to the Lord as He has held on to us, never to let Him go, and to obtain the blessing of those who will not be denied, for they know He will not fail.

Romans 5:5 … And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (KJV)

1 Corinthians 3:21, 22 … So then, no more boasting about human leaders! All things are yours, Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future–all are yours … (NIV)

Romans 8:32 … He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?  (NASB)

Slave Auction Block, Green Hill Plantation, Library of Congress photo, by permission