Gospel 1 | Luke 1:68-79 (with Nick Locke)

Opening Song:
Lo, How A Rose E’er Blooming by Michael Praetorius and Blake Flattley

Lyrics:
Lo how a rose e’er blooming
From tender stem hath sprung
Of Jesse’s lineage coming
As prophets long have sung
It came a flow’ret bright
Amid the cold of winter
When half spent was the night

Isaiah ‘twas foretold it
The rose I have in mind
With Mary we behold it
The virgin mother kind
To show God’s love aright
She bore to us a Savior
When half spent was the night

O Savior child of Mary
Who felt our human woe
O Savior King of glory
Who dost our weakness know
Bring us at length we pray
To the bright courts of heaven
And to the endless day

Passage:
68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
for he has visited and redeemed his people
69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
70 as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old,
71 that we should be saved from our enemies
and from the hand of all who hate us;
72 to show the mercy promised to our fathers
and to remember his holy covenant,
73 the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us
74 that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies,
might serve him without fear,
75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
76 And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High;
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,
77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people
in the forgiveness of their sins,
78 because of the tender mercy of our God,
whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
(Luke 1:68–79 ESV)

Musical Reflection:
Lo, How A Rose E'er Blooming (ES IST EIN ROS) by Michael Praetorius

Reflection Notes:
Praetorius composed this tune in the early seventeenth century while working at various court and church appointments in Germany. The somewhat melancholy nature of the melody reflects the theological tension of the text: the rose of Christ is born to die, but will rise again in resurrection glory.

Prayer:
This is another day, O Lord. I know not what it will bring forth, but make me ready, Lord, for whatever it may be. If I am to stand up, help me to stand bravely. If I am to sit still, help me to sit quietly. If I am to lie low, help me to do it patiently. And if I am to do nothing, let me do it gallantly. Make these words more than words, and give me the Spirit of Jesus. Amen.