“O Lord, How Shall I Meet You” (ELW 241)
Devotion
O Lord, how shall I meet you,
how welcome you aright?
Your people long to greet you,
my hope, my heart's delight!
Oh, kindle, Lord most holy,
your lamp within my breast
to do in spirit lowly
all that may please you best.
I lay in fetters, groaning;
you came to set me free.
I stood, my shame bemoaning;
you came to honor me.
A glorious crown you give me,
a treasure safe on high
that will not fail or leave me
as earthly riches fly.
Love caused your incarnation;
love brought you down to me.
Your thirst for my salvation
procured my liberty.
Oh, love beyond all telling,
that led you to embrace
in love, all love excelling,
our lost and fallen race.
Rejoice, then, you sad-hearted,
who sit in deepest gloom,
who mourn your joys departed
and tremble at your doom.
All hail the Lord's appearing!
O glorious Sun, now come,
send forth your beams so cheering
and guide us safely home.
The readings for this week have anticipated the season of Advent with their themes of God's "timing" and of "waiting" in hope for the fulfillment of God’s promises. Paul Gerhardt's Advent hymn knows about this waiting: "Oh how shall I meet you, how welcome you aright?" It speaks of a longing and thirst only to be satisfied when the Lord comes to set us free. It hopes in a love that is beyond all telling, in a light that will dawn anew in our hearts in the coming of one whose appearance will be like the rising of the sun. Even in the midst of our waiting is it possible that the good news of this coming one can inspire our "sad hearts" to rejoice in the confidence that God's salvation is coming to lead us home.
Prayer
Oh love beyond all telling, inspire us to rejoice at your coming. Dawn with your light in the darkness of our waiting with your promise that you come to lead us home. Amen.