O Lord, How Shall I Meet You (ELW 241)
1 O Lord, how shall I meet you,
how welcome you aright?
Your people long to greet you,
my hope, my heart’s delight!
Oh, kindle, Lord most holy,
your lamp within my breast
to do in spirit lowly
all that may please you best.
2 I lay in fetters, groaning;
you came to set me free.
I stood, my shame bemoaning;
you came to honor me.
A glorious crown you give me,
a treasure safe on high
that will not fail or leave me
as earthly riches fly.
3 Love caused your incarnation;
love brought you down to me.
Your thirst for my salvation
procured my liberty.
Oh, love beyond all telling,
that led you to embrace
in love, all love excelling,
our lost and fallen race.
4 Rejoice, then, you sad-hearted,
who sit in deepest gloom,
who mourn your joys departed
and tremble at your doom.
All hail the Lord’s appearing!
O glorious Sun, now come,
send forth your beams so cheering
and guide us safely home.
Devotion
Our theme hymn for Advent so fittingly mirrors Mary’s question to the angel in this week’s gospel reading: “O Lord, how shall I meet you?” Though the specific words chosen by the poet may differ from Luke’s story of the Annunciation of God’s promise to Mary, the themes and the power of God’s promises still capture our hearts. We hear of the longing and hope of a world held in bondage and fear. We hear of the depth of God’s love that reached out to embrace and liberate God’s people in the birth of God’s Son. And we hear of the power of that love to transform sadness and gloom into a joy like that at the sunrise— and we are led to respond like Mary with faith in God’s power to lead us safely home to God’s kingdom. Let it be also to us according to your word of promise.
Prayer
God of excelling love, thank you for reaching out to embrace my longing for your presence. May the good news of freedom in the birth of your Son continue to dispel the gloom and fill me with joy and delight in this season. Amen.