The Wonder of the Cross – 40 Days with the Music of Vicky Beeching
Day 23 – Monday after Lent 4 – Emmanuel
To Read:
From the Scriptures:
The Institution of the Lord’s Supper
14 When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. 15 He said to them, ‘I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, 16 for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.’ 17 Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, ‘Take this and divide it among yourselves, 18 for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’ 19 Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ 20 And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.’
(Luke 22v14-20)
From Vicky Beeching:
Emmanuel
On the dark night that You were betrayed
You broke the bread in pieces
You poured the wine knowing Your life
Would soon be poured out to heal us
What love is this?
Emmanuel You’re God with us
And we remember You
Through Your body and Your blood
Emmanuel You gave Your life
Our hearts cry thank You
For Your sacrifice
Why would You die for someone like me
Someone so undeserving
Why would You leave Heaven’s glory
To step down and carry my burdens
What love is this?
Chorus
Let Your blood cover me
Wash me white and set me free
Let Your blood make me clean
Today today (repeats)
Chorus
To Listen: Emmanuel by Vicky Beeching
To Reflect:
The love our Beloved has for us is full of topsy-turvyness. God does things the wrong way around as a cure for our having walked away from this unwarranted love.
Bread is broken to make us whole
Blood is spilt to wash us clean
Death is put to death to bring us life.
Perhaps this upside-down love is explained most clearly by the ancient Christian Hymn in Philippians 2v6-8.
Though he existed in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be grasped,
but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
assuming human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a human,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death –
even death on a cross.
With Vicky our response can only be ‘What love is this?’
The genius of God’s way of breaking, of pouring out, of self-emptying, is that it brings an answer to all human conditions no matter how dark or dire. This way of walking the path of obedience all the way to death, His death on the cross (Good News Bible). Succour is provided for all who suffer and death is indeed ‘swallowed up in victory’.
How do we respond? We simply receive. Without cost. Without price. We cry out ‘Thank you,’ and with the saints in glory our robes are washed white in the Blood of the Lamb.
Let Your blood cover me
Wash me white and set me free
Let Your blood make me clean
Today…
To Pray:
From unclean lips,
From an evil heart,
From an impure tongue,
Out of a soul defiled,
Receive, O Christ, my prayer.
All my sins take from me,
O God of all;
That with a clean heart,
With a trembling mind,
And a contrite spirit,
I may partake of Thy pure
And all-holy Mysteries.
My Master and my God,
Whosoever partaketh of Thy divine
And hallowing grace,
Assuredly, never is alone
But is with Thee, O Christ,
The thrice-glorious Light
Which lighteth the world.
(Simeon the New Theologian – adapted)
To Do:
Aim to receive communion an ‘extra’ time in the weeks ahead.
Give some food to a Food bank or a homeless person or both.
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If you would like to find out more about Vicky and her work here is a link to her Wikipedia entry. For a fuller picture her autobiography ‘Undivided’ is highly recommended
Please Note: These reflections are also published on my blog: suffolkvicarhomes.com on Bluesky as @suffolkvicar.bsky.social, and on my public Facebook page Suffolk Vicar – Rev Andrew Dotchin.
If you would like them as a daily email please send a request to revdotchin@gmail.com
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Acknowledgements:
These Reflections, ‘The Wonder of the Cross – 40 Days with the Music of Vicky Beaching’ are copyright © Andrew Dotchin 2026 and may be reproduced without charge on condition that their source is acknowledged.
All of the music on the video clips are from YouTube and are © Vicky Beeching.
If you enjoy listening to her songs please consider buying her recordings. A full discography and other information about Vicky can be found on her website vickybeeching.com.
Scripture quotations are from The New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Prayers are from A Diary of Prayer compiled by Elizabeth Goudge and are copyright © 1966 The Estate of Elizabeth Goudge.
Suffolk Vicar 