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
This hymn by Paul Gerhardt, published in 1653 in Berlin, was written during the terrors of the Thirty Years’ War. It talks about how our Lord comes and how we welcome him. Then the question of welcome is also directed toward the Lord himself. How do we welcome you, Lord? Instead of focusing on creating, redeeming, and sustaining, this hymn is about our Lord creating a welcome for us. How does the Lord welcome you into his presence? What does that feel like? The hymn says in stanza three:
The Lord comes with gladness, in mercy and goodwill,
To bring an end to sadness, and bid our fears be still.
In patient expectation we live for that great day
When your renewed creation your glory shall display.
Prayer
O Lord, continue to welcome us into your goodness and glory. We love you. Amen.