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"Are Ye Able," Said the Master

1. "Are ye able," said the Master,
"To be crucified with Me?"
"Yea," the sturdy dreamers answered,
"To the death we follow Thee."

2. "Are ye able" to remember,
When a thief lifts up his eyes,
That his pardoned soul is worthy
Of a place in paradise?

3. "Are ye able?" said the Master
Whispers down eternity,
And heroic spirits answer,
Now as then in Galilee:

Chorus:
"Lord, we are able" our spirits are Thine;
Remold them make us like Thee, divine.
Thy guiding radiance above us shall be
A beacon to God, to love and loyalty.

Lyrics: Earl Bowman Marlatt
Music: Harry Silverdale Mason

Tune: BEACON HILL
Meter: Irregular meter

"Are Ye Able," Said the Master

Earl Marlatt, 1892–1976

Earl Marlatt, a professor of religion at Boston University and later at Southern Methodist University, wrote this text in 1925 for a consecration service at the Boston University School of Religious Education. It was based on Christ’s pointed question to His disciples in Matthew 20:22: “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” “We can,” they answered. The hymn was originally titled “Challenge.”