Oh Wondrous Image, Vision Fair, ELW 316
1 Oh, wondrous image, vision fair of glory that the church may share, which Christ upon the mountain shows, where brighter than the sun he glows!
2 With Moses and Elijah nigh the incarnate Lord holds converse high, and from the cloud, the Holy One says, "This is my beloved Son."
3 With shining face and bright array, Christ deigns to manifest today what glory shall be theirs above who joy in God with perfect love.
4 And faithful hearts are raised on high by this great vision's mystery; for which in joyful song we raise the voice of prayer, the hymn of praise.
5 O Father, with the eternal Son, and Holy Spirit ever one, we pray you, bring us by your grace to see your glory face to face.
Devotion
The classic transfiguration hymn in my tradition, "Oh, Wondrous Image, Vision Fair," conjures up in me the kind of mystical awe and reverence that I imagine bewildered the disciples. The opening notes are trumpet blasts straight out of heaven, announcing the King. The meter is stately, as if for a noble procession, as if that king is even now entering the hall followed by his royal retinue. In a blaze of glory, the words announce the ending of the time of the Marcan Messianic secret. The Philippian enthronement scene is anticipated. Angels, archangels and saints of every time and place will praise this name as in heaven and on earth. And under the earth, every knee shall bend, because this is Jesus—the Holy One of Israel, the one we've been waiting for, the Savior of the World. Our hearts bow with theirs in gladness at this encounter with our Lord.
Prayer
Moments of tasting your glory can be rare, Lord, and life grinds along hungry for glimpses of you. Grant us a foretaste of you sufficient for us. In Jesus' name, Amen.