Rejoice, O Dark Planet

This poem was part of my homily for our 

Christmas Eve Service of Lessons and Carols. 

Rejoice, O Dark Planet

By  Virgil Hurt

12/23/2012

His Spirit, His life, His glory, His light.

The Lord has come in power and might

To save the world from sin.

All the world now is shining

From the river to the sea,

With the glory of the angels chiming,

Christ the Lord has come to thee.

Rejoice, O dark planet,

The light begins to dawn.

The glory of the Lord has risen,

The shadows of death are gone.

Downcast eyes are now uplifted,

Weakened knees made strong.

Feeble hands in prayer have risen,

Famished lips filled up with song.

For the Son of God is born

In Bethlehem this night,

And every blessed child’s morn

Rejoices at the sight.

 Jesus, by name, O Savior mine

Has saved me from my sin,

And all the world from love divine

To Eden saves again.

Rejoice then with the angels,

Glory to God in highest stead.

The Father sent the Son

And death is nearly dead.

When the Son on cross is risen

Dreadful death to know,

Death will finally be given

The final deathly blow.

And when the Son to Father rises,

The Son in us will rise with Him.

The Spirit then Himself surprises,

To give us all Himself within.

And when the day for glory comes,

Our bodies raised in victory,

To Jesus all shall surely come

And praises to our king decree.

Then finally all the world will know

That Father, Son and Spirit show

The love of God to man

And man to God from Earth below.

And man will join the heavenly throng

To sing that ancient vict’ry song

Of peace on Earth good will to men

As all, in peace with God, things end.