Advent Reflection 08 December

Lo, he comes with clouds descending

 

Pause for a moment

Think of the last time you saw a majestic sky – maybe a sunset or light through storm clouds.

Listen to the music

Lo, he comes with clouds descending,
once for favoured sinners slain;
thousand thousand saints attending
swell the triumph of his train:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
God appears on earth to reign.

 

Every eye shall now behold him
robed in dreadful majesty;
those who set at naught and sold him,
pierced and nailed him to the tree,
deeply wailing, deeply wailing, deeply wailing,
shall the true Messiah see.

Those dear tokens of his passion
still his dazzling body bears,
cause of endless exultation
to his ransomed worshippers:
with what rapture, with what rapture, with what rapture,
gaze we on those glorious scars!

 

Yea, Amen, let all adore thee,
high on thine eternal throne;
Saviour, take the power and glory,
claim the kingdom for thine own:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Thou shalt reign and thou alone.

 

Learn about the carol

 

In 1750 John Cennick, a friend of John and Charles Wesley, wrote an Advent hymn that began, "Lo! he cometh, countless trumpets blow before his bloody sign!" Cennick's hymn was published in 1752. Charles Wesley completely rewrote the text and published his
version in 1758, with the title "Thy Kingdom Come" (later changed to "The Second Advent").

Like so many of Wesley's texts, "Lo! He Comes" abounds with biblical imagery. Verses 1, 2, and 4 are based on the rich language of John's apocalyptic visions recorded in Revelation 1:7 and 5:11-13. The third verse reminds us that Christ's wounds and atoning death should lead us to greater faith and ultimately to our worship of Christ in glory (as Christ himself reminded the doubting Thomas). Verse 4 is a majestic doxology to Christ, our Saviour and Lord.

 

Time for reflection

 

I love ‘sky watching’. Driving from St. Patrick’s back to Kimberley, as you come over the brow of the hill, there are some spectacular sights. There is a time of the year when you catch the sunset on the way home from evening service or bible study. Clouds, sky and sun speak into my soul in a way that has no words.

I have heard the shafts of light through storm clouds referred to as ‘angels’ stairways’ and you can almost imaging heaven just out of sight. It’s at times like that I remember the verse:

‘I am,’ said Jesus. ‘And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.’ Mark 14:62

 

Time for Action

 

Spend some time ‘sky watching’ and imagine God’s splendour.