A Blessed Epiphany

January 6, 2010
Topic: Hymnody, Worship

Blessings to you on this feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord when we commemorate “God in man made manifest.” Lutherans usually associate Phillip Nicolai’s “O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright” (LSB 395) — the queen of the chorales — with this day.

It is a hymn full of comfort and devotional thought. Jesus the bright Morning Star. God’s blessings in the midst of life’s difficulties. Those blessings being the gifts God gives us in His means of grace that sustain us. Then strengthened and nourished, we go forth and proclaim the story as we wait for the feast to come.

O Morning Star, how fair and bright!

You shine with God’s own truth and light, (st. 1)

. . .

Now, though daily

Earth’s deep sadness

May perplex us

And distress us,

Yet with heav’nly joy You bless us. (st. 2)

. . .

Your Word and Spirit, flesh and blood

Refresh our souls with heav’nly food.

You are our dearest treasure! (st. 3)

. . .

Your Son has ransomed us in love

To live in Him here and above:

This is Your great salvation. (st. 4)

. . .

Tell the story!

Great is He, the King of glory! (st. 5)

. . .

Come, Lord Jesus!

Crown of gladness!

We are yearning

For the day of Your returning! (st. 6)

This Epiphany, “Tell the story!” (rather than how much you love to tell the story — that’s a different song). Tell the story of Christ — the God man who lived, died, and rose for us. Sing and treasure this hymn of the faith!

Here is an organ setting of the hymn by Pachelbel.