Balm In Gilead

Balm In Gilead

At my first Mass, when I was ordained a Catholic priest, I asked a friend, a blind lady who played guitar, to sing a traditional Black-American spiritual as part of the service. The first time I heard this hymn I was deeply touched by its simplicity. Having come out of the oppression of slavery and an abiding faith in God, these words are unction for the weary soul.

The theme comes from the Old Testament Jeremiah “Is there no balm (a spicy aromatic oil) in Gilead? Is there no physician there?” This man of God, crying out for the healing of his people, could easily be speaking to us today. The hurt is all around. The words of man cannot heal what ails our nation. Is there no balm in Gilead?

Let the words of old hymn restore your soul:

There is a balm in Gilead, to make the wounded whole; there is a balm in Gilead, to heal the sin-sick soul.

Sometimes I feel discouraged, and think my work’s in vain, but then the Holy Spirit revives my hope again.

If you can’t preach like Peter, if you can’t pray like Paul, just tell the love of Jesus, and say He died for all.

Don’t ever feel discouraged, ‘cause Jesus is your friend, and if you lack for knowledge, He’ll never fail to lend.

There is a balm in Gilead, to make the wounded whole; there is a balm in Gilead, to heal the sin-sick soul.

No doubt, it will take more than a song to heal our own hurts or the wounds of a nation. Yet, a simple reminder of words written long ago can point us in the right direction. The chorus of a child’s hymn also shows the way: “Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so.”

Yes He does!