Music Notes for the Fifth Sunday of Lent Dr. John Michniewicz

For the Fifth Sunday of Lent, March 22, 2026, the focus is on resurrection and life. In the first reading, Ezekiel 37:12–14 God promises that “I will open your graves and have you rise from them,” and states: “I will put my spirit in you that you may live.” Following the first reading, the Responsorial Psalm continues this thought. The response for Psalm 130 reads: “With the Lord there is mercy, and fullness of redemption.” The final verse continues “It is he who will redeem Israel…” The second reading, Romans 8:8–11, reinforces that the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells within, stating: “If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ…will give life…” These readings lead to the Gospel of John, 11:1–45, where Jesus raises Lazarus. In this passage, Jesus declares, “I am the resurrection and the life.”

Sunday’s entrance hymn: I Know That My Redeemer Lives (Worship Hymnal No. 527) reflects the Gospel’s promise of life over death. The hymn text answers the fundamental question that Jesus asks in the Gospel Reading. Jesus says “I am the resurrection and the life, whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live.” Jesus then asks: “Do you believe this?” In 1759, the hymn’s author, Samuel Medley was severely wounded while on an English warship fighting the French. Facing the amputation of his leg in order to save his life, he prayed for healing.

Miraculously his leg improved by the next morning and he recovered from his wounds. Following his recovery, Medley became a devoted Christian and later a minister. From this experience, he was inspired to write I Know That My Redeemer Lives, reflecting the hope and joy of the resurrection. The title comes from Job 19:25, where Job, amid immense suffering, expresses faith that his redeemer lives and that he will one day stand upon the earth.

The hymn is usually paired with the hymn tune DUKE STREET. Musically, its soaring melodic leaps mirror the “blest assurance” and confidence found in the Ezekiel and Gospel readings, showing that death is not the final word. The melody is highly singable, featuring predominantly note-by-note, or stepwise movements, with the use of wider interval leaps only in the third and fourth phrases, providing a climactic high point to the hymn’s melody on the third phrase: “He lives who once was dead.” As noted, many hymn tunes are named for a place known to the composer. In this case, John Warrington Hatton (1710-1793) is thought to have lived on Duke Street in St. Helens, Lancashire, England.

1. I know that my Redeemer lives! What joy this blest assurance gives! He lives, he lives who once was dead; He lives, my everlasting Head!

1. He lives to bless me with his love; He lives to plead for me above;

He lives my hungry soul to feed; He lives to help in time of need.

1. He lives and grants me daily breath; He lives, and I shall conquer death; He lives my mansion to prepare;

He lives to bring me safely there.

1. He lives, all glory to his name; He lives, my Savior, still the same; What joy this blest assurance gives:

I know that my Redeemer lives!

Here is a clearly sung version of I Know That My Redeemer Lives

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYOsSdDQBKo

Sunday’s Presentation Hymn, What Wondrous Love Is This? (Worship Hymnal No. 641) is an American folk hymn that first appeared in a hymnal around 1811. The text has been attributed to a minister from Oxford, Georgia named Alexander Means. It is believed that the hymn’s melody derives from a 1600’s-era English folk melody that was featured in many popular songs. In fact, it is thought that the song was prominently sung in the Southern revival type camp meetings in the early 1800’s and that people reused popular melodies in some of the hymn singing that took place in those services. The distinctive melody features what is known as the Dorian mode. This mode is similar to the familiar minor scale, but the sixth note of the scale is raised up by one note, (a so-called half-step) which gives it such a memorable effect. The Dorian mode reflects the more somber sensibility of Lent, an atmosphere reflecting the “dreadful curse” Christ bore, echoing the sacrifice required to grant the life promised as in Romans. The hymn’s lyrics also reflect the famous verse from John 3:16:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Even with its modal melody, the hymn makes a triumphant and bold statement affirming eternal life. Strikingly, the third verse acclaims: “And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be, And through eternity I’ll sing on.”

What Wondrous Love Is This?

1. What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul! What wondrous love is this, O my soul!

What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul;

To bear the dreadful curse for my soul!

1. To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing; To God and to the Lamb I will sing.

To God and to the Lamb, who is the great I AM, While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing;

While millions join the theme, I will sing.

1. And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on; And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on.

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing and joyful be, And through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;

And through eternity I’ll sing on.

The Cathedral Choral Society in Washington D.C. presents a striking version of the hymn, reflecting its folk roots: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDKi6jQ0hoY

It is thought that the early, original singers of this hymn may have had an enthusiastic, forward-placed sound, that might have sounded something like this in the early revival camp meetings:

Here is a triumphant version for brass, percussion organ and choir as arranged by Paul Halley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y04AETt16o0

At the 11:30 Mass, the Choir will sing “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” by Bob Chilcott, at the Presentation. It offers a contemporary take on Isaac Watts’ classic hymn from 1707. Chilcott, a former member of the King’s Singers, has become a prominent composer of music for choirs, and is known for his rich, accessible choral textures and beautiful, memorable melodies. His use of a modern harmonic framework highlights a contrast in the text: counting “richest gain” as “loss.” This mirrors the progression in the readings from death to life, through the cross. Chilcott varies the texture, so that verse three features the choir a cappella on the verse that reflects Christ’s crucifixion. Then, dramatically, reflecting the fourth verse, there is a soprano descant (counter melody) above the hymn melody with a full organ sound, reflecting the “Love so amazing, so divine” that “demands my soul, my life, my all.”

1. 1. When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of glory died, My richest gain I count but loss, And pour contempt on all my pride.
   2. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ my God! All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood.
   3. See from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down! Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,

Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

1. 1. Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a present far too small; Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Here is the Wells Cathedral Choir singing When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, by Bob Chilcott. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2GuIM3lfPw

Similarly, the meditation “Drop, Drop Slow Tears” by Philip Stopford utilizes the composer’s signature “English Cathedral” style with rich, soaring harmonies and featured dissonances to illustrate the “deep floods” of repentance. Stopford’s music here captures the quiet reflection of the soul entreating God’s mercy, much like the mourners at Lazarus’ tomb. Drop, Drop Slow Tears is a setting of a poem by Phineas Fletcher, born in 1582. Stopford’s musical setting is characterized by its gentle melodies, rich harmonies, and expressive dynamics. The downward motion of the melodic line again provides another musical illustration of falling tears. Many have interpreted the poem as referring to the repentance of Mary Magdalene, who repented and became a follower of Christ. While the Gospel shows Jesus as the “resurrection and the life,” it also highlights his human compassion as he weeps for his friend, Lazarus. The “slow tears” in Stopford’s anthem mirror the mourning of Mary and Martha and the vulnerability of Jesus Himself. Set in a minor mode, the anthem does have still a melodic and harmonic richness that highlights a hopeful, and inevitable, sensibility leading to resurrection.

Drop, Drop Slow Tears Philip Stopford

Drop, drop, slow tears,

and bathe those beauteous feet, which brought from heaven

the news and Prince of Peace.

Cease not, wet eyes, his mercies to entreat; to cry for vengeance sin doth never cease.

In your deep floods

drown all my faults and fears; nor let his eye

see sin, but through my tears.

Here is a version of Stopford’s Drop, Drop, Slow Tears as sung by the group Ecclesium at St. Anne’s Cathedral, in Belfast Ireland.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2BzFTKiQFo

Sunday’s final hymn is Lift High the Cross (Worship Hymnal No. 885). Originally written by George Kitchin for a festival service in Winchester Cathedral, it was later paired with Sydney Nicholson’s robust tune CRUCIFER. As a “triumphant sign,” the cross becomes the “glorious

tree” that buys “life eternally.” This hymn highlights the victory of the resurrection, a “song of triumph” reflecting the resurrection shown in Sunday’s readings.

Refrain: Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim till all the world adore his sacred name.

1. Come, Christians, follow where our Savior trod, Our King victorious, Christ, the Son of God.

1. Led on their way by this triumphant sign, The hosts of God in conquering ranks combine.

1. Each newborn servant of the Crucified Bears on the brow the seal of him who died.

1. O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree, Your death has bought us life eternally.

1. So shall our song of triumph ever be:

Praise to the Crucified for victory!

Here is an interesting and dramatic version of Lift High the Cross at the 2024 Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston, as arranged by their music director, Richard Clark. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwQ4x1XjGLw

Sources: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fwllcms/posts/3683859841929519/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_Wondrous_Love_Is_This

https://www.google.com/search?q=story+of+I+know+that+my+redeemer+lives&oq=story+of+I+k now+that+my+redeemer+lives&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIICAEQABgWGB4yCAg CEAAYFhgeMggIAxAAGBYYHjIICAQQABgWGB4yCAgFEAAYFhgeMggIBhAAGBYYHjIIC

https://www.google.com/search?q=catholic+bible+john