1. Oh, wondrous image, vision fair
of glory that the church may share,
which Christ upon the mountain shows,
where brighter than the sun he glows!
2. With Moses and Elijah nigh
the'incarnate Lord holds converse high,
and from the cloud, the Holy One
says, "This is my beloved Son."
3. With shining face and bright array,
Christ deigns to manifest today
what glory shall be theirs above
who joy in God with perfect love.
4. And faithful hearts are raised on high
by this great vision's mystery;
for which in joyful song we raise
the voice of prayer, the hymn of praise.
5. O Father, with the'eternal Son,
and Holy Spirit, ever one,
we pray you, bring us by your grace
to see your glory face to face.
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"Christ deigns to manifest today what glory shall be theirs..."
Perhaps we understand the mystery of Christ no better than the people of Nazareth did. Often we are more blinded by the brightness of his face rather than illumined by its shining. And yet--even though we perhaps see only the wavering image in a mirror, we still see enough to know that God's everlasting love sustains us in this moment.
This is the day to gather. Here we pass thorough the limits of time and space and catch a glimpse of what God intends for the whole creation. This is the hour to join our voices to Jeremiah, the psalmist, Paul, the animals, the shepherds, and the sages and with them to sing.
"And faithful hearts are raised--in joyful song--the hymn of praise."
Glorious one, full of grace, accept my gratitude, receive my praise. Draw me into the joy of your perfect love and unite me with all your beloved. Amen.
L. DeAne Lagerquist
Professor of Religion, St. Olaf College
Master of Arts , 1981
---------------------
1. Oh, wondrous image, vision fair
of glory that the church may share,
which Christ upon the mountain shows,
where brighter than the sun he glows!
2. With Moses and Elijah nigh
the'incarnate Lord holds converse high,
and from the cloud, the Holy One
says, "This is my beloved Son."
3. With shining face and bright array,
Christ deigns to manifest today
what glory shall be theirs above
who joy in God with perfect love.
4. And faithful hearts are raised on high
by this great vision's mystery;
for which in joyful song we raise
the voice of prayer, the hymn of praise.
5. O Father, with the'eternal Son,
and Holy Spirit, ever one,
we pray you, bring us by your grace
to see your glory face to face.
---------------------
"With Moses and Elijah nigh the incarnate Lord holds converse high." The hymn writer offers us another invitation to imagine the company Jesus keeps, placing him on a mountain with the prophets of old, and claimed from a cloud.
"This is my beloved Son."
It is a glorious vision. But as Christmas turns to Epiphany we still have the babe in mind and recall other, earthy company. At our house the crowd around the manger includes a blue camel from Cairo, a sandalwood Indian elephant, a Chinese dragon crated from bright wire, a wooden tiger from Korea, a white marble peacock, a turquoise Hippopotamus. Joining this strange menagerie are three royal seekers from the East. I imagine that this throng of animals and foreigners raises loud, chaotic sounds. They too claim Jesus, the tiny one made incarnate in the stuff of the earth.
"This is our brother."
Little one, open my ears to hear what all the creatures tell us about you. Open my eyes to see what all creation reveals of your love. Amen.
---------------------
L. DeAne Lagerquist
Professor of Religion, St. Olaf College
Master of Arts , 1981
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