Alleluia, Alleluia, sounds through the earth and skies.
O star of wonder, star of night, star with royal beauty
bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding, guide us to Thy
perfect light.
--John Henry Hopkins, Jr., 1857
Christmas is a strange kind of baby shower for Christians.
Even as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, with mirth and pure joy, we know that
the week of Christ’s Passion is around the corner. We welcome the baby with the
angels’ song echoing in our ears; but we know the rest of the story. We
anticipate crying “Crucify!” with the
crowd disappointed in the vision of a Savior who won’t destroy Roman rule.
Just like the chore of putting away the Christmas decorations, we turn the
corner between Christmas and Good Friday with reluctance.
This Epiphany hymn celebrates the gifts of the Magi: gold, a
gift fit for a king; frankincense, an offering to a god; myrrh, an embalming
spice foreshadowing Christ’s death at the hands of unchecked political and
religious power.
Guide us to Your perfect Light.
No comments:
Post a Comment