Friday, April 23, 2021

Today is the date usually cited as the birthday of William Shakespeare in 1564, and it is also the date of his death a scant 52 years later.  The birthdate is a bit less certain than the date of his death, but we do have the record that he was baptized on April 26, a few days after his birth.

This extraordinary poet and playwright transformed language and thought about what it means to be human.  Next to Scripture, Shakespeare is probably most quoted even when we don’t think of the origin of a phrase. Like any other human being, he was flawed but was able to use his own flaws in developing the characters in his plays.

When we consider the beauty of his language and the strength and weakness of the characters in his plays, we can see ourselves as human beings full of the promise of hope and the despair of tragedy.  On this cool spring morning, let us thank God that such a person as William Shakespeare lived, enriching our language and our realization of what it means to be human.

Prayer for the Day

Open our eyes, O God, so we may truly see you,

   In the world about us, even where we least expect you.

Open our ears, O God, so we may truly hear you,

   Through your Word, even when we do not recognize it.

Open our minds, O God, that we may truly understand you,

   As we search for knowledge and wisdom.

Open our hearts, O God, that we may truly love you,

   And live in the world as you would have us live.

In the name of him who came to open us to you,

         Even Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

Thoughts for the Day

Though justice be thy plea, consider this, that in the course of justice none of us should see salvation. We do pray for mercy; and that same prayer doth teach us all to render the deeds of mercy.

                        Portia in Merchant of Venice, Act 4, Sc. 1

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?  Thou are more lovely and temperate.

                        William Shakespeare, Sonnet 18

Praise the Lord!  Praise the name of the Lord, give praise, O servants of the Lord,

   You who stand in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of the Lord.

Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing praises to God’s name for God is gracious.

                        Psalm 135: 1-3