“O Lord, How Shall I Meet You?” (ELW 241)
Our Advent theme hymn has invited us to reflect on our journey toward
Bethlehem: “O Lord, how shall I meet you aright?” Part of the answer is that
we stand this Christmas Day at the side of the manger. We welcome this babe
with the simple and profound conviction that here lies the promise that God’s
steadfast love will never fail.
Because, as this hymn so boldly declares, it’s all about love. As if we might
somehow miss it, four times in the third stanza the hymn writer reminds us of
this love that has reached out to embrace us and the whole creation, because
it springs from a God who has such a passionate thirst for our freedom.
Now it is for us to seek ways in which this deep love might be lit like a lamp in
our hearts, and that such love might compel us to rejoice and live our lives each
day as a reflection of God's love in Jesus, our Savior.
O Lord most holy, kindle within us the lamp of your love, that we might trust in the
good news of your salvation, and so be guided to actions of love for all your beloved
people and the creation. Amen.
