1John 3:16-19;
Hebrews 13:16; Matthew 25:40—Sunday’s Hymn of the Day is Thy Strong Word (LSB #578).
This wonderful hymn tells the story of salvation as the Lord speaks to us in
and through His Word. All three persons of the Trinity are mentioned in the
last stanza. God the Father, light-creator, Jesus is the one eternal God
begotten from the Father light of light. The Holy Spirit is the light-revealer.
Together with angels in heaven, we praise the Triune God Father, Son and Holy
Spirit.
Hymn 381 Thy Strong Word
Tune: Ton-y-Botel (Thomas John Williams 1869-1944)
Text:
Martin H. Franzmann (1907-1976)
The tune
has been given the name "Ton-y-Botel", which means, ‘it was found
in a bottle.’ This tune was set in previous hymnals to the text "Once
to Every Man and Nation," a poem of James R. Lowell opposing our war
against Mexico. This text, written in the 20th century, seems especially
appropriate in the later Epiphany season, a time when we as Church stop to
reflect on the whole meaning of Christ's incarnation and our response. We see
Jesus coming into our lives as light, the beacon of hope and life we follow
even in the dark times, as in mid-winter. Here, in this brilliant marriage of
text and music, is a jewel, which lifts us up as we sing at once more confident
and joyous, journeying on in God's shining light.[2]
Collect for
Saturday of the week of Epiphany 4: We have
come, O God, at Thy bidding. Unless we are willing to be healed, Thou canst not
heal the world’s hurt. Grant us now in the power of Thy Spirit to hear the word,
which maketh whole the sick, and all things new that were old. Through Jesus
Christ, our Lord.[3] Amen -04 February 2023
[1]
Luther’s Seal, © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[3]
Collect for Saturday of the week of Epiphany 4, For All the Saints, A Prayer
Book For and By the Church, Vol III © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity
Bureau, Delhi, NY
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