Weekly Newsletter
May 1st, 2026
A Note from Rev'd Holly
Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life…
In John 14, Thomas speaks honestly for the disciples when he says to Jesus “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus responds : “I am the way, the truth and the life.” When he goes on to say that “no one can come to the Father except by me,” some people react in distrust, feel excluded. But Jesus is speaking here of his death and what happens after. All of us do follow that same way in our death. And Father can be understood as the source and end of ALL life—however we imagine that to be. So let’s use our musical imagination.
Recently, I happened to mention the song “Come, my way, my truth, my life.” The person had never heard of it before. It is one of the great poetic and musical contributions of the Anglican Church to the Church universal.
The poetic pastor from the 17 th century, George Herbert wrote this and a number of other poems out of his own spiritual and pastoral experience. For his collection called The Temple, he is considered to be one of the Mystical Poets of that age. Herbert named this one “The Call.”
Come, my way, my truth, my life:
such a way as gives us breath;
such a truth as ends all strife;
such a life as killeth death.
Come, my light, my feast, my strength:
such a light as shows a feast;
such a feast as mends in length;
such a strength as makes his guest.
Come, my joy, my love, my heart:
such a joy as none can move;
such a love as none can part;
such a heart as joys in love.
But then, in the 20th century, Ralph Vaughn-Williams, that renowned English composer, wrote music for some of these poems. He called them “The Five Mystical Songs.” You will recognize this as hymn 569 in Common Praise. But if you have time, enjoy all of them set to Vaughn Williams’ original music, sung by a baritone soloist:https://www.emmanueldowntown.org/music-at-emmanuel-mystical-songs-apr-7
(“The Call” begins at 14m 10s.)
