Songs of Thankfulness and Praise, ELW 310
1 Songs of thankfulness and praise, Jesus, Lord to thee we raise;
manifested by the star to the sages from afar,
branch of royal David's stem in thy birth at Bethlehem:
anthems be to thee addressed, God in flesh made manifest.
2 Manifest at Jordan's stream, prophet, priest and king supreme;
and at Cana wedding guest in thy God-head manifest;
manifest in pow'r divine, changing water into wine;
anthems be to thee addressed, God in flesh made manifest.
3 Manifest in making whole weakened body, fainting soul;
manifest in valiant fight, quelling all the devil's might;
manifest in gracious will, ever bringing good from ill:
anthems be to thee addressed, God in flesh made manifest.
4 Grant us grace to see thee, Lord, present in thy holy word;
grace to imitate thee now and be pure, as pure art thou;
that we might become like thee at thy great epiphany,
and may praise thee, ever blest, God in flesh made manifest.
Devotion
It was bedtime, so the parents put their young son to bed and then went into the next room. The little boy didn’t like that. The idea of being in a dark room by himself did not appeal to him. He called out to his folks, telling them that he was scared and didn’t want to be alone. His dad called back, “Don’t worry, there are angels watching over you.” The boy replied, “Maybe so, but I want someone I can see and touch.”
Life for all of us can be scary, dark, disorientating. We cry out to our heavenly Father. Oh, we know of promises and angels and Scripture. But like that little boy, we want someone we can see and touch.
That is preciously what God has provided: God’s own Son, born into this world, born in human flesh. God has come to share our lives. That is the wonder of Epiphany; that is the wonder of our faith. God in flesh made manifest!
Prayer
Find us, O Lord, again and again. We so easily become lost and afraid. Come to us in your light and love. Amen.