Of the Father’s Love Begotten (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 295)
1 Of the Father’s love begotten
ere the worlds began to be,
he is Alpha and Omega,
he the source, the ending he,
of the things that are, that have been,
and that future years shall see,
evermore and evermore.
2 Oh, that birth forever blessed,
when the virgin, full of grace,
by the Holy Ghost conceiving,
bore the Savior of our race,
and the babe, the world’s redeemer,
first revealed his sacred face,
evermore and evermore.
3 This is he whom seers in old time
chanted of with one accord,
whom the voices of the prophets
promised in their faithful word;
now he shines, the long-expected;
let creation praise its Lord
evermore and evermore.
4 Let the heights of heav’n adore him;
angel hosts, his praises sing;
pow’rs, dominions, bow before him
and extol our God and King;
let no tongue on earth be silent,
ev’ry voice in concert ring
evermore and evermore.
5 Christ, to thee, with God the Father,
and, O Holy Ghost, to thee,
hymn and chant and high thanksgiving
and unwearied praises be:
honor, glory, and dominion,
and eternal victory
evermore and evermore.
Text: Marcus Aurelius Clemens Prudentius; Music: Plainsong mode V; Public Domain
Devotion
This hymn is among the oldest still available to us, dating from some 1,600 years ago. It puts in poetic form the essential message of John’s prologue—that from the Creator and Father’s own love was begotten One who is source and end of all that was, is, and will be. The ancients were, it seems, for whatever reason, better than we are at embracing and expressing, or at least trying to express, a holy mystery. Yet, this ancient song does not proclaim only the mysteries that belong to beginnings and endings. It proclaims the mystery that stands there at the very center—in the birth of a baby, with his own sacred face, and a mother who holds and adores him, as any mother would. Poetic mystery and a baby’s smile, all wrapped up in a song. What will happen now?
Prayer
O Holy Child, smile on us as you smiled on Mary and in the smile invite us to ponder, as she did, what your arrival might do, might change, might mean for us, and for the world all around. As we ponder your beginning, keep us on the watch for the ending too. Amen.