The hymn of the day, O Bride of Christ, Rejoice (LSB 335),
expresses the joy that Christ’s Church has as she waits in expectation of His
coming, not only into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, but especially at the day of
glory foretold in ancient story, the Last Day, when He comes to judge the
world and take all believers to eternity in heaven.
“O Bride of Christ, Rejoice.” was part of The Lutheran Hymnal of
1941.
The text has Danish roots from around 1600. The author is unknown, but it
was translated into English by Victor O. Petersen (1864–1929) in 1899. Petersen
was born in Sweden and came to America in 1867. Though he worked as a chemistry
professor, he was a lover of hymns. He translated a number of them from the
Swedish Psalm-book, including this one for The Lutheran Hymnal.
The tune “Wo soll ich fliehen hin” translates as “where shall I flee
out.” It is from Kaspar Stieler’s Der Bussfertige Sünder oder Geistliches
Handbüchlein (The Repentant Sinner or Spiritual Songbook), published in
Nurnberg in 1679. It is unknown if Stieler composed the tune or not. Whoever
wrote it, the tune was originally a setting of the repentance hymn “The
Repentant Sinner,” by Johann Heermann.
This lovely hymn is based on two scripture passages. The first is Matthew
21:1–16. This is the Palm Sunday passage where Jesus rides into Jerusalem and
the crowds shout “Hosanna to the Son of David.” The second is Zechariah 9:9. In
this prophecy, Zechariah writes, “Rejoice
greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your
king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted
on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” [2]
A prayer before confession and absolution: Almighty, everlasting God, for our many sins we justly deserve eternal condemnation. In Your mercy You sent Your dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who won for us forgiveness of sins and everlasting salvation. Grant us a true confession that, dead to sin, we may be raised up by Your life-giving absolution. Grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may be ever watchful and live true and godly lives in Your service; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. [3]
Collect for Ambrose of Milan –O God, who made the Bishop Ambrose a teacher of the faith and a model of apostolic courage, raise up in your Church men after Your own heart to govern her with courage and wisdom. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. [4]
[1] Advent,
copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[3] Collect
prior to confession and absolution, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia
Publishing House, St. Louis
[4] Collect for Ambrose Lutheran Service Book copyright 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
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