RW 127, “Christ, Be Our Light”
Devotion
I notice that Bernadette Farrell, who penned this hymn, was born in 1957. I also notice that, while older hymns tend to focus on God and (dare I say?) heaven, newer hymns (and a new generation of hymn writers) lift up “church” and “mission.”
This hymn astutely draws attention to a world filled with despair; specifically hunger, thirst and homelessness. Powerfully the hymn prays, “Make us your living voice. Make us … light for the world to see.”
As a young pastor I was disillusioned with church councils that didn’t know how to talk about “mission” but were comfortable talking about furnaces and paint. (I later realized no one had taught them to think about mission!) With a few more years of experience since my ordination in 1969, I marvel at how enthusiastically most Lutherans have come to understand and embrace Jesus’ call to be a community of disciples in mission. They want to be “light for the world to see.”
Prayer
Servant Lord, again today your people gather to worship you. Pour your Holy Spirit upon our congregation, that many will yearn to be “signs of your kingdom come” and many will pray, “Shine in your church gathered today.” Amen.