Hark, the Glad Sound! (ELW 239, verse 3)
Devotion
1Hark, the glad sound! The Savior comes,
the Savior promised long;
let ev’ry heart prepare a throne
and ev’ry voice a song.
2He comes the pris’ners to release,
in Satan’s bondage held.
The gates of brass before him burst,
the iron fetters yield.
3He comes the broken heart to bind,
the bleeding soul to cure,
and with the treasures of his grace
to enrich the humble poor.
4Our glad hosannas, Prince of peace,
your welcome shall proclaim,
and heav’n’s eternal arches ring
with your beloved name.
We often spiritualize the gospel. We think it only affects our feelings or ideas. We forget that it also touches our bodies and relationships. Yet if there is anything that the biblical texts for Advent make clear, it is that salvation affects the totality of our lives.
As Messiah, Jesus ushers in God's reign of mercy, righteousness and justice (Jeremiah 9:23-24). Jesus brings mercy to bind broken hearts, righteousness to cure bleeding souls, and justice to enrich the humble poor. Repenting and trusting the gospel touches our hearts, our minds and souls, and our bodies.
Moreover, as the gospel renews and transforms us, we discover that our relationships and the communities in which we find ourselves are also renewed and transformed. We discover that the burning fire of the Holy Spirit within and among us burns away everything in our personal and corporate lives that cannot withstand God's reign of mercy, righteousness and justice.
Prayer
Dear Jesus, bind up broken hearts, cure bleeding souls and enrich the humble poor with the treasures of your grace. Let loose your Messianic age of the Spirit. Within and among us. Now. Amen.