Advent Week Three

J O Y

This week we celebrate the joy of an impending actuality. The Christ Child is coming – not in the distant future, but soon and very soon!

While “Come, thou long-expected Jesus” is in many minds the quintessential Wesleyan Advent hymn, I offer a lesser-known text for this week’s reflection. “Light of those whose dreary dwelling” was first published in 1745 in Charles Wesley’s Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord.

From Christ-in-heaven shines forth beams of love, offering new life, joy and clarity of vision. The first stanza transports us upward to dizzying heights, taking on the perspective of Christ looking down on the clouds below. Christ’s illuminating power is rendered in startling language: “pouring eye-sight on our eyes.” Though we wait still for the appearance of the “universal Saviour,” we wait in the confidence that soon and very soon, our souls will be released from all burdens. Soon and very soon, God will bring the “gospel-grace.” Soon and very soon, our Emmanuel will come.

Light of those whose dreary dwelling

Borders on the shades of death,

Come, and by thy love's revealing,

Dissipate the clouds beneath:

The new heaven and earth's Creator,

In our deepest darkness rise,

Scattering all the night of nature,

Pouring eye-sight on our eyes.

Still we wait for thy appearing,

Life and joy thy beams impart,

Chasing all our fears, and chearing

Every poor benighted heart.

Come, and manifest the favour

God hath for our ransomed race;

Come, thou universal Saviour,

Come, and bring the gospel-grace.

Save us in thy great compassion,

O thou mild pacific Prince,

Give the knowledge of salvation,

Give the pardon of our sins;

By thine all-redeeming merit

Every burdened soul release,

Every weary wandring Spirit

Guide into thy perfect peace.

To view all hymns in this collection, visit http://www.gbod.org/worship/articles/cw1745.html.