Hymn of the Week: June 28, 2021
Hymn of the Week: When the Poor Ones
Glory to God: 762
Text José Antonio Olivar and Miguel Manzano 1970 Translated George Lockwood
Music José Antonio Olivar and Miguel Manzano
Enjoy this stunning hymn from Spain that has become one of First Presbyterian's most loved hymns based closely on the Matthew 25 scripture that Karen has been preaching on over the past three Sundays.
When the Poor Ones
When the poor ones who have nothing share with strangers,
When the thirsty water give unto us all,
When the crippled in their weakness strengthen others,
Then we know that God still goes that road with us,
Then we know that God still goes that road with us.
When at last all those who suffer find their comfort,
When they hope though even hope seems hopeless,
When we love, though hate at times seems all around us,
Then we know that God still goes that road with us,
Then we know that God still goes that road with us.
When our joy fills up our cup to overflowing,
When our lips can speak no words other than true,
When we know that love for simple things is better,
Then we know that God still goes that road with us,
Then we know that God still goes that road with us.
When our homes are filled with goodness in abundance,
When we learn how to make peace instead of war,
When each stranger that we meet is called a neighbor,
Then we know that God still goes that road with us,
Then we know that God still goes that road with us.
This hymn was composed in 1970 by two men from Spain. The award-winning poet and journalist José Antonio Olivar came from a seafaring family. Miguel Manzano was a cantor at age 8 in a cathedral near the border of Portugal and became a composer and professor at the Higher Conservatory of Music in Salamanca. Miguel Manzano is a Spanish composer and singer. He was born in Aillamor de Cardozo near the border with Portugal. Miguel began his religious musical career at the age of 8 as a cantor at the Cathedral of Zamora, Spain. He studied solfege, piano, organ, and harmonium with the renowned teacher, Gaspar Arabaolaza. Later on, he began studies at the Higher School of Sacred Music in Madrid, where he studied Rhythm and Gregorian Modality, as well as Harmony and Religious Polyphony. He furthered his studies of language and musical rhythm at the Catholic Institute of Paris.
Miguel's internationally recognized music has been chosen to complete the repertoire of the National Liturgical Hymnal of the Episcopal Committee of Spanish Liturgy. At present, he is a Professor of Ethnic Music at the Higher Conservatory of Music in Salamanca.
Their song now appears in the hymnals of many denominations including Presbyterian, United Methodist, Evangelical Lutheran, and Moravian.
Written when Liberation Theology was turning the Christian world upside down, this hymn was inspired by Matthew 25: 31-46, in which Jesus says “For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me.”
Here, Jesus instructs us to see his face in the least privileged, the least powerful, to intentionally reject greed and embrace compassion.
The hymn’s refrain also recalls the journey of the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). Just when they felt most lost and abandoned, Christ was walking beside them.
