LBW #355, stanzas 1 and 4, “Through the Night of Dark and Sorrow”
Devotion
Through the night of doubt and sorrow onward goes the pilgrim band,
Singing songs of expectation, marching to the promised land.
Clear before us through the darkness gleams and burns the guiding light;
Pilgrim clasps the hand of pilgrim stepping fearless through the night.
Onward, therefore, sisters, brothers; Onward, with the cross our aid.
Bear its shame, and fight its battle till we rest beneath its shade.
Soon shall come the great awak’ning; Soon the rending of the tomb!
Then the scattering of all shadows, and the end of toil and gloom.
“Through the night of doubt and sorrow” the pilgrim band presses onward, “singing songs of expectation.” We look forward to “the scatt’ring of all shadows,” to the “end of toil and gloom.” The vision drives us forward, “with the cross our aid.” We “bear its shame, and fight its battle.” That means doing what led Jesus to the cross—-siding with the poor, the needy and the dispossessed, eating with sinners. That means walking with Jesus, who cared about peace, mercy, justice and truth.
Prayer
Nerve us, Christ, to follow your cross in and for the world on our pilgrim journey. Amen.