Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 246)
1 Hark! a thrilling voice is sounding!
“Christ is near,” we hear it say.
“Cast away the works of darkness
all you children of the day!”
2 Wakened by the solemn warning,
from earth’s bondage let us rise;
Christ, our sun, all sloth dispelling,
shines upon the morning skies.
3 See the Lamb, so long expected,
comes with pardon down from heav’n.
Let us haste, with tears of sorrow,
one and all, to be forgiv’n;
4 So, when next he comes in glory
and the world is wrapped in fear,
he will shield us with his mercy
and with words of love draw near.
5 Honor, glory, might, and blessing
to the Father and the Son
with the everliving Spirit
while unending ages run!
Text: Latin hymn, 1632; Music: William H. Monk; Public Domain
Devotion
Imagine the baby Jesus laying in his mother’s arms. The long night of labor is over. The screams, the blood and water, the sweat and swearing, they are now a shadowy memory. The blessedness of this child is the bright morning dawn that puts those painful events into perspective.
For unto us a child is born.
This is an image of peace. There is a spiritual bond exchanged between the eyes of mother and child. The mirror neurons are firing and the spiritual/mental/physical connection is forming. And yet, this is just the beginning. This precious child will grow up in a world that will be filled with those who hate him and love him. The Roman oppressors are still there. The greedy, powerful, and violent are still clinging to control.
So, we too, his followers, gaze into God’s eyes, filled with assurance of being loved, and we move into the hopeful growing of the year ahead.
Prayer
Oh God, our blessed parent, giver of life, fill us with your love, hope, and courage. Hark! We hear the thrilling voice calling us into the new day. Amen.