{"id":34961,"date":"2016-11-30T15:44:23","date_gmt":"2016-11-30T21:44:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/praytellblog.com\/?p=34961"},"modified":"2016-12-05T12:18:50","modified_gmt":"2016-12-05T18:18:50","slug":"a-hymn-text-for-the-first-sunday-of-advent-year-a","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/praytellblog.com\/index.php\/2016\/11\/30\/a-hymn-text-for-the-first-sunday-of-advent-year-a\/","title":{"rendered":"A Hymn Text for the First Sunday of Advent, Year A"},"content":{"rendered":"

Even though it would not be possible this year to sing my hymn text intended for use with the readings assigned to the First Sunday of Advent, Year A, in the post-Vatican II Lectionary for Mass, I would still like to offer it to those reading the Pray Tell blog for meditation in this first week of Advent. It may be helpful to recall last Sunday’s readings as they form the basis for this “hymn of the day.” I have paired the text with an Irish traditional 76.76.D. tune called DURROW, but other tunes in the same meter could be tried. Please note that the hymn text is copyrighted by The Jan Michael Joncas Trust and published by Oregon Catholic Press in Within Our Hearts Be Born. The Michael Joncas Hymnary: Advent and Christmas<\/em> with all rights reserved. (I hope to post hymn texts for the next three Sundays of Advent on the Fridays of the week preceding.)<\/p>\n

We read the ancient vision
\nwithin the ancient books
\nthat swords be turned to plowshares
\nand spears to pruning hooks,
\nthat warring hearts turn gentle,
\nand peace should grace our land:
\nThe long, dark night is ending;
\nthe daystar is at hand.<\/p>\n

Yet how can we stay hopeful
\nwhile counting up our dead,
\nwhile wars and insurrections
\nremain our daily bread,
\nwhile in the heart’s deep chambers
\nwe strive against the light,
\nthe long, dark night embracing
\nthe daystar not in sight.<\/p>\n

When we conspire with evil,
\ntrade righteousness for lies,
\ncommitting deeds of darkness,
\nsleepwalking through our lives,
\nGod’s word sounds to arouse us,
\nto open slumbering eyes:
\n“The long, dark night is ending:
\nthe daystar will arise.”<\/p>\n

When nations bristle conflict,
\nwhen pacts are torn and tossed,
\nnegotiations falter,
\nand hope itself seems lost,
\nthe prophet’s voice still echoes
\nwithin our longing ears:
\n“The long, dark night is ending,
\nthe daystar drawing near.<\/p>\n

So come, O God of visions,
\nto heal our world of pain.
\nCome, rouse us from our slumber,
\nstir up our hope again,
\nrenew our faltering courage
\nand help us to believe
\nthe long, dark night is ending,
\nyour Daystar to receive.<\/p>\n

(I hope to post hymn texts for the next three Sundays of Advent on the Fridays of the week preceding.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Even though it would not be possible this year to sing my hymn text intended for use with the readings assigned to the First Sunday of Advent, Year A, in the post-Vatican II Lectionary for Mass, I would still like to offer it to those reading the Pray Tell blog for meditation in this first […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[22],"tags":[464],"class_list":["post-34961","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-music-hymns","tag-advent"],"yoast_head":"\nA Hymn Text for the First Sunday of Advent, Year A - Home<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/praytellblog.com\/index.php\/2016\/11\/30\/a-hymn-text-for-the-first-sunday-of-advent-year-a\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Hymn Text for the First Sunday of Advent, Year A - 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