A Hymn for the First Sunday of Advent

O Word of God the Father (to the tune of "Jupiter")

“The Pillars of Creation,” captured by the James Webb Space Telescope

Today is the first Sunday of Advent, or the first day of the church year in the traditional liturgical calendar. Advent season, although diluted and debased into little more than Phase II of “pre-Christmas” today (Phase I now beginning sometime around November 10th, it would seem), is a time for reflecting and rejoicing in the whole glorious sweep of the Christian narrative, in all its unity, complexity, and symbolic resonance. In it, we not only look back to Christ’s first coming and look forward to his Second Coming; we also look back imaginatively to the experience of the people of Israel in their long years of waiting for the Messiah (as sung in one of the greatest of all hymns, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”). Whereas in other parts of the church year we focus on particular moments and high points within the grand narrative of redemption, during Advent we step back to look at it whole, its patterns of anticipation and fulfillment, of veiling and unveiling. In it, we see the unity of the Word of God written as the polyphonous testimony to the Word of God incarnate: the one through whom all things were made, through whom the law was given, through whom the law was fulfilled, and through whom all things will be made new.

Several years ago, listening to one of the greatest hymn tunes of all time (“Thaxted”—that is, the theme to “Jupiter” from Gustav Holst’s The Planets), which seemed to conjure up the grandeur of the great story of creation, redemption, and consummation, I was inspired to write a hymn reflecting on the unity of the Word in all his works. I hope you’ll appreciate it (and don’t forget to hum the glorious strains of “Jupiter” while you read)!

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O Word of God the Father

To the tune Thaxted (“Jupiter”) by Gustav Holst

O Word of God the Father
Before the worlds began
Who laid the earth’s foundations,
Who stretched out heaven’s span;
Who gave the stars their orbits,
Who gave the Sun its light;
Who clothed the earth with oceans,
Formed mountains by your might.
O Word of God, Creator,
Creation sings your praise;
The world displays your power
And nature shows your grace.

O Word of God the Father,
Our fathers sought for thee.
They left the lands of slav’ry,
They passed through Egypt’s sea;
They heard the voice that thundered,
They vanquished Canaan’s kings;
They heard the words of prophets,
The judgment for their sins.
O Word of God, Revealer,
You spoke through the long years:
Your law to guide our footsteps,
Your love to calm our fears.

O Word of God the Father
Stretched out upon the tree,
You left your throne in heaven
And died to set us free.
You came and dwelt amongst us,
You bore our grief and pain;
You perished as an outlaw
To cleanse us from sin’s stain.
O Word of God, Redeemer
The Word of truth and grace
Though hidden through long ages,
You show us now your face.

O Word of God the Father,
You reign as king on high.
You raised our human nature,
That death itself may die:
The Lamb, enthroned ‘midst angels,
The Lord above all lords,
The righteous judge of nations,
Whose words are two-edged swords.
O Word of God, Renewer
We worship at your throne
Creation bows in wonder
And owns your rule alone.

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