Lord Christ, When First You Came to Earth, ELW 727 & LBW 421
1 Lord Christ, when first you came to earth, upon a cross they bound you,
and mocked your saving kingship's worth by thorns with which they crowned you.
And still our wrongs may fashion now new thorns to pierce that steady brow,
and robe of sorrow round you.
2 O awesome Love, which finds no room in life where sin denies you,
and, doomed to death, shall bring to doom the pow'r that crucifies you,
till not a stone is left on stone, and then the nations' pride, o'erthrown,
will nevermore defy you!
3 New advent of the love of Christ, will we again refuse you,
till in the night of hate and war we perish as we lose you?
From ancient doubts our minds release to seek the kingdom of your peace,
by which alone we choose you.
4 O wounded hands of Jesus, build in us your new creation;
our pride is dust, our vaunt is stilled; we wait your revelation.
O Love that triumphs over loss, we bring our hearts before your cross;
come, finish your salvation.
Devotion
“In the night of hate and war, we perish as we lose you” is a mournful line. It brings to mind families shattered by domestic abuse; soldiers terrorized by bombs and snipers; the many, many ways human beings bring atrocious pain upon each other. When we give in to the darkness, when we allow the light that shines in us through baptism to be snuffed out by anger, jealousy, greed, violence and worse, then what is left?
If we rely on ourselves to make things right, we’re doomed. But if we can “bring our hearts before the cross,” if we remember the unfailing love God poured out for us in Jesus, we will somehow make it through. Because God will never leave us to suffer alone and afraid. God is in the business of bringing light to the darkness. God promises to make all things new. Thanks be to God!
Prayer
Lord, what sweet comfort to know that your love triumphs over loss, and that your mercy is for me. Amen.