Canticle of the Turning (Evangelical Lutheran Worship 723)
1 My soul cries out with a joyful shout that the God of my heart is great,
and my spirit sings of the wondrous things that you bring to the ones who wait.
You fixed your sight on your servant’s plight, and my weakness you did not spurn,
so from east to west shall my name be blest. Could the world be about to turn?
Refrain
My heart shall sing of the day you bring. Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near, and the world is about to turn.
2 Though I am small, my God,, my all, you work great things in me,
and your mercy will last from the depths of the past to the end of the age to be.
Your very name puts the proud to shame, and to those who would for you yearn,
you will show your might, put the strong to flight, for the world is about to turn.
3 From the halls of pow’r to the fortress tow’r.. not a stone will be left on stone.
Let the king beware for your justice tears ev’ry tyrant from his throne.
The hungry poor shall weep no more, for the food the can never earn;
there are tables spread, ev’ry mouth be fed, for the world is about to turn.
4 Though the nations rage from age to age, we remember who golds us fast:
God’s mercy must deliver us from the conqueror’s crushing grasp.
This saving word that our forebears heard is the promise which holds us bound,
till the spear and rod can be crushed by God, who is turning the world around.
Text: Rory Cooney; Music: Irish traditional; Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A730924
Devotion
The “Canticle of the Turning” inspires my heart because it renews the vision of the dawning of God’s new creation. My soul cries out and my spirit sings because God still cares passionately for our suffering world and continues to use my humble gifts to bring about wondrous things.
In Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection, God gives us not only the comfort of knowing that our sins are forgiven, but also the assurance that God is still at work transforming creation, long held captive by the power of sin. This transformation does not come through human effort; it is a gift from a powerful, gracious, and loving God. In this vision, we see that wars come to an end, tyrants are overthrown, and every mouth is fed because God is faithful and keeps God’s promises. We have waited for God to act. We rejoice because in Christ the new creation has begun!
Prayer
Faithful God, gives us the assurance to trust that you are constantly at the work of transforming creation. May we rejoice that in Jesus Christ the new creation has already begun. Amen.