Carry Me on Eagle’s Wings

You who dwell in the shelter of the Lord,
Who abide in His shadow for life,
Say to the Lord, “My Refuge,
My Rock in whom I trust.”

And He will raise you up on eagle’s wings
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
May you to shine like the sun,
And hold you in the palm of His Hand.

The words to this hymn are based on the text of Psalm 91, with references to Exodus 19 as well as Matthew 13. Then seminarian Michael Joncas was asked to compose a hymn by his friend Doug Hall, another seminarian of the Archdiocese of Omaha at the Catholic University of America. Hall asked Joncas to compose the funeral hymn after his father had suffered a massive heart attack in January and the prognosis was poor. Doug Hall’s father died in April. So it was that on April 27, 1976 “On Eagle‘s Wings” was preformed for the very first time ever. While eagles are not a part of scripture, Father Joncas added the more visual analogy to represent the angels from on high sent by God for protection. Father Joncas recorded and published his work in 1979, and was ordained as a priest of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis the following year. It is one of the few modern hymns that has gained significant popularity in both the Catholic and Protestant hymnody. While considered a funeral hymn, it remains one of my favorites. Each time I hear it sung, I cry with abundant joy. I don’t believe God waits until we have passed from this life to raise us up and make us shine like the sun. He does so every time we turn to Him in prayer.

Today is also the Memorial Feast Day of Mary, Martha and Lazarus and National Chicken Wing Day. You know me, my mind works is very strange ways. Lazarus was raised from the dead. No need for a funeral song, and yet I am sure he and his sisters felt very much lifted up by the miracle of Jesus. Chicken Wings made me think of another bird. Hence here we are on this beautiful day celebrating all that the Lord has ever done or shall ever do for us, His adopted children.

Mexican Chicken Wings with Cotija Dipping Sauce
Cotija Dip
1/2 cup Sour Cream
2 tablespoons Lime Juice
1 Lime, zested
1/4 cup Cilantro
2 small Serrano Pepper
1/3 cup Cotija Cheese
Pinch Salt

Place sour cream in a medium bowl. Add lime juice and the zest of a lime over the sour cream, set aside.

Finely snip cilantro. Stem and mince Serrano Pepper. Scatter over the sour cream. Add the cheese and a pinch of salt. Fold together to combine. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Mexican Chicken Wings
2 lbs Chicken Wings
Cooking spray
4 tablespoons Smoked Paprika
1 tablespoon Ancho Chili Powder
1 tablespoon Cumin
2 teaspoons Garlic Powder
1 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
3/4 teaspoon Salt

Note: If you need to cook wings in batches, do the following FIRST: Heat oven to 250-degrees. Place a wire rack inside a rimmed baking pan. Place in the warm oven.

Remove baskets from air fryer. Spray with cooking spray, set aside. Dry chicken wings on paper towels until well dried. Set wings aside.

In a bowl mix smoked paprika, Ancho powder, cumin, garlic powder, cayenne and salt. Toss to blend seasonings well. Add chicken wings, a few at a time, toss to coat. Place half of the wings in one air fryer basket, the other half in another so as to not over crowd wings.

Set Air Fryer for Duel Cooking (if you have 2 sides, otherwise do this in batches). Heat to 400-degrees, cook time 20 minutes. Press Start. After 10 minutes, pause, remove baskets, turn wings. Return to fryer, continue to cook for the remaining 10 minutes.

While the wings are air-frying prepare garnishings for serving.

For Serving
2 or 3 Jalapeño Peppers
2 Limes
Cilantro Sprigs as a garnish

Stem and slice peppers. Slice limes into wedges. Snip a few sprigs of cilantro from the bunch for a garnish.

Remove dip from the refrigerator and place in the center of a large serving platter. Arrange wings around the dip. Garnish the platter with slices of peppers, lime wedges and cilantro springs as desired.

Serve and enjoy. To serve wings as a more complete meal, serve alongside some spicy Refried Beans. Don’t forget your favorite Margarita!

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As far as the east is from the west,
so far has He put our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who obey Him.