Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying (LBW 31, verse 2)
Devotion
1 Wake, awake, for night is flying,
the watchmen on the heights are crying;
awake, Jerusalem, at last.
Midnight hears the welcome voices,
and at the thrilling cry rejoices:
“Come forth, you maidens! Night is past.
The bridegroom comes! Awake;
your lamps with gladness take!”
Alleluia!
Prepare yourselves to meet the Lord,
whose light has stirred the waiting guard.
2 Zion hears the watchmen singing,
and in her heart new joy is springing.
She wakes, she rises from her gloom,
for her Lord comes down all-glorious,
the strong in grace, in truth victorious.
Her star is ris’n; her light is come.
Oh, come, you Blessed One,
Lord Jesus, God’s own Son.
Sing hosanna!
We go until the halls we view
where you have bid us dine with you.
3 Now let all the heav’ns adore you,
and saints and angels sing before you.
The harps and cymbals all unite.
Of one pearl each shining portal,
where, dwelling with the choir immortal,
we gather round your dazzling light.
No eye has seen, no ear
has yet been trained to hear,
what joy is ours!
Crescendos rise; your halls resound;
hosannas blend in cosmic sound.
Text: Philipp Nicolai, 1556-1608; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1829-1878, alt.
Many of my friends shake their heads at me because I am an early riser by choice. They cannot wrap their heads around the concept that a retiree who does not have to rush off to work chooses to go to bed at 8 p.m.
I was not always this way. Often in my school and work life, I burned the candle on both ends. What happened? I discovered the joy of watching the sun rise; enjoying my coffee; petting my dog; having time to read, think, and pray — easing into the day instead of racing off pell-mell to the next fire to be put out.
I love beginning each day rejoicing that today is a day the Lord has made. I celebrate that Christ is risen — alleluia! Today I get to witness the inbreaking of God's rule and play my bit part in God's redemptive drama. It doesn't get better than that!
And, oh… please pass the butter and marmalade.
Prayer
I give thanks to you, heavenly Father through Jesus Christ your dear Son, that you have protected me through the night from all harm and danger. I ask that you would also protect me today from sin and all evil, so that my life and actions may please you. Into your hands I commend myself: my body, my soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel be with me, so that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen. (Martin Luther's Morning Prayer, ELW, p. 1166)