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1. Through the night of doubt and sorrow,
onward goes the pilgrim band,
singing songs of expectation,
marching to the promised land.
Clear before us through the darkness
gleams and burns the guiding light;
pilgrim clasps the hand of pilgrim
stepping fearless through the night.
2. One the light of God's own presence
on the ransomed people shed,
chasing far the gloom and terror,
bright'ning all the path we tread.
One the object of our journey,
one the faith which never tires,
one the earnest looking forward,
one the hope our God inspires.
3. One the strain that lips of thousands
lift as from the heart of one;
one the conflict, one the peril,
one the march in God begun.
One the gladness of rejoicing
on the far eternal shore,
where the one almighty Father
reigns in love forevermore.
4. Onward, therefore, sisters, brothers;
onward, with the cross our aid.
Bear its shame, and fight its battle
till we rest beneath its shade.
Soon shall come the great awak'ning;
soon the rending of the tomb!
Then the scatt'ring of all shadows,
and the end of toil and gloom.
***
The readings for this Sunday carry sobering words, as
well as promise. The hymn speaks of conflict and peril.
Certainly, we know these things in our lives. In Lent we
are invited to face them squarely, to own our part and
to come to the table of God's mercy with hearts open
to the feast that awaits us. How is it that God can both
call us to account and make a place for us? It is through
love that surpasses our understanding, a love that Jesus
shared with all and paid for with his life. Yearning for the far eternal shore, we may rejoice, but the reign of love is anything but simple happiness. The love we remember in this season is powerful and complex, wide-eyed but not fuzzy in the least. It demands things from us and promises forgiveness when we miss the mark. Humbly, we rejoice and tell the story again.
Your faithfulness, O God, is beyond our capacity.
We honor you and pray for the reign of your love in
our time and place. Amen.Catherine Malotky '86
Grant and Project Manager for the Center for Stewardship Leaders, Luther Seminary
The Luther Seminary
2481 Como AveNUE
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States
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