Hark, the Glad Sound! (ELW 239, verse 4)
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.
Advent has much in common with Lent. If you have been following the Advent texts these past couple of weeks, you have probably noticed that they are replete with judgment and calls for repentance.
Yet these calls are rooted in promise and hope. God has won the victory over disaster and destruction. The Holy One now lives in our midst. The Prince of Peace has come and will continue to come into our lives, giving us the peace that surpasses all understanding. The Lord now sings along in response to our songs of praise. Eternal arches ring with a welcome that resounds not only in the heavens but also in every aspect of our mundane lives.
Thus, we draw on inexhaustible wells of salvation. We can call on Jesus' name and expect that the Messiah's love will so permeate and renew our lives that it spills over into the communities we inhabit.
Prayer
O Jesus, our Prince of Peace, we welcome you into our lives. We shout and sing your praises with glad hosannas! May your love so renew and permeate our lives that it spills over into the communities we inhabit. Amen.