Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Lutheran Seminary God Pause "Moved by the Promise" for Saturday, 12 July 2014 "All Earth Is Hopeful" ELW 266

Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States - Lutheran Seminary God Pause "Moved by the Promise" for Saturday, 12 July 2014 "All Earth Is Hopeful" ELW 266
1. All earth is hopeful, the Savior comes at last! 
Furrows lie open for God’s creative task: 
this, the labor of people who struggle to see 
how God’s truth and justice set everybody free. 
1. Toda la tierra esperra al Salvador 
y el surco abierto, la obra del Señor; 
es el mundo que lucha por la libertad, 

reclama justicia y busca la verdad.
2. Thus says the prophet to those of Israel:
'A virgin mother will bear Emmanuel,'
one whose name is 'God with us' our Saviour shall be;

with him hope will blossom once more within our hearts.
3. Mountains and valleys will have to be made plain; 
open new highways, new highways for the Lord.
He is now coming closer, so come all and see, 
and open the doorways as wide as wide can be.
3. Montes y valles habrd que preparar; 
nuevos caminos tenemos que trazar.
El estd ya muy cerca, venidlo_a_encontrar, 
y todas las pueitas abrid de par en par.
4. In lowly stable the Promised One appeared, 
yet, feel his presence throughout the earth today, 
for he lives in all Christians and is with us now; 
again, with his coming he brings us liberty.
4. En una cueva Jesus aparecio, 
pero_en el mundo estd presents hoy. 
Vive_en nuestros hermanos, con ellos esta; 
y vuelve de nuevo a dornos libertad.

An Advent hymn during Pentecost, you ask? Why not! There is no better time than the present (especially a present time when we encounter texts that describe what it looks like when earth is hopeful) to join all of creation in praising God. Both text and tune of this hymn reveal the already/not yet-ness of God's work. That this hymn is originally in Spanish highlights this even more since the Spanish verb esperar means both "to wait" and "to hope." Indeed, hopeful waiting exhibits elements of present fulfillment: "The Savior comes at last!" And yet, there is room for more: "Furrows lie open for God's creative task." I love this poetic phrase as it reflects the hopeful expectancy of all creation (including us!) for God to continue to create. The verse-to-verse movement of this text mirrors the rhythm of the church year and even, perhaps, the rhythm of our lives: God's coming is foretold. God comes near. God is present!

We acknowledge your presence, O God, even as we struggle to see how your truth and justice set everyone, everything (!) free. We wait with hope for your continued creative work in the world, in us. Amen.
Shauna Hannan
Associate Professor of Preaching, Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, S.C. 
Master of Divinity , 1998
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