Solemnity of Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

These four readings to-day are simply perfect, from our heavenly Father, Who is perfect!
Love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love.

Father, help me to love as You love - moment by moment and day by day.

Reading 1 dt 7:6-11 

Moses said to the people:
"You are a people sacred to the LORD, your God;
he has chosen you from all the nations on the face of the earth
to be a people peculiarly his own.
It was not because you are the largest of all nations
that the LORD set his heart on you and chose you,
for you are really the smallest of all nations.
It was because the LORD loved you
and because of his fidelity to the oath he had sworn your fathers,
that he brought you out with his strong hand
from the place of slavery,
and ransomed you from the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt.
Understand, then, that the LORD, your God, is God indeed,
the faithful God who keeps his merciful covenant
down to the thousandth generation
toward those who love him and keep his commandments,
but who repays with destruction a person who hates him;
he does not dally with such a one,
but makes them personally pay for it.
You shall therefore carefully observe the commandments,
the statutes and the decrees that I enjoin on you today."

Responsorial Psalm ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8, 10 

R/ (cf. 17) The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
all my being, bless his holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and forget not all his benefits.
R/ The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
He pardons all your iniquities,
heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
crowns you with kindness and compassion.
R/ The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
R/ The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.

Reading 2 1 jn 4:7-16 

Beloved, let us love one another,
because love is of God;
everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.
In this way the love of God was revealed to us:
God sent his only Son into the world
so that we might have life through him.
In this is love:
not that we have loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us,
we also must love one another.
No one has ever seen God.
Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us,
and his love is brought to perfection in us.

This is how we know that we remain in him and he in us,
that he has given us of his Spirit.
Moreover, we have seen and testify
that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world.
Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,
God remains in him and he in God.
We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.

God is love, and whoever remains in love
remains in God and God in him.

Gospel mt 11:25-30

At that time Jesus exclaimed:
"I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to little ones.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.

"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."

A Day in the Life (protrusely unoriginal yes)

Woke up, rubbed my eyes, found my Adidas flips. Couldn't believe how bright it was already at 5...6...WHAT?!? 8 OCLOCK!! Shuffled to the bathroom for a quick shave; wet the hair, brushed the teeth and off to the bedroom. Shed the comfy sleep shorts (☹) and donned the fotl's, black jeans, deodorant, aftershave, LVCCM cross, white shirt, and high top Nike Force (red, black, and white yo).
Conversed briefly with my sweetie while steering my hair, applied the olfactory check on the quality of the four-day-old potato salad (smelled fine), put together two turkey and cheese mini-sandwiches for the drive to work, grabbed my insulin and was out the door.
Expressway way only takes about 11 minutes, enough time to thank God for the day, praise God for His goodness, recite a couple of rote prayers, and ask for His blessing on our friends and loved ones.
Parked in the usual spot (assuring me of the quickest possible walk to the office door - about three seconds), opened the office door, lumbered up the old creaky wooden steps, turned the light on, and set down my stuff.
Made a bee line to the coffee machine (wisely all set to go - i just have to press the button each morning), then back to my area

my area

to check on urgent requests. Took care of urgent requests, read my daily readings, turned the page on the flip calendar to June 26, and attended to the business of the morning: Kink's closing tomorrow, Shindler's closing to-day, uploading the Pole conditions, asking underwriters various questions about their ridiculous loan stipulations.
Blah blah blah, more of the same, ate some potato salad, drank tons of water and coffee, and tried to get some information on a refi for a nice elderly lady.

Untitled and Unfinished Post

Up early this morning paying some bills and what not... Moni and me shared an omelet in Hamburg and talked about many things.

Pange Lingua

Of the glorious Body telling,
O my tongue, its mysteries sing,
And the Blood, all price excelling,
Which the world's eternal King,
In a noble womb once dwelling
Shed for the world's ransoming.

Given for us, descending,
Of a Virgin to proceed,
Man with man in converse blending,
Scattered he the Gospel seed,
Till his sojourn drew to ending,
Which he closed in wondrous deed.

At the last great Supper lying
Circled by his brethren's band,
Meekly with the law complying,
First he finished its command
Then, immortal Food supplying,
Gave himself with his own hand.

Word made Flesh, by word he maketh
Very bread his Flesh to be;
Man in wine Christ's Blood partaketh:
And if senses fail to see,
Faith alone the true heart waketh
To behold the mystery.

Therefore we, before him bending,
This great Sacrament revere;
Types and shadows have their ending,
For the newer rite is here;
Faith, our outward sense befriending,
Makes the inward vision clear.

Glory let us give, and blessing
To the Father and the Son;
Honour, might, and praise addressing,
While eternal ages run;
Ever too his love confessing,
Who, from both, with both is one. Amen.

St Thomas Aquinas

Pange, lingua, gloriosi

Corporis mysterium,

Sanguinisque pretiosi,

quem in mundi pretium

fructus ventris generosi

Rex effudit Gentium.

Nobis datus, nobis natus

ex intacta Virgine,

et in mundo conversatus,

sparso verbi semine,

sui moras incolatus

miro clausit ordine.

In supremae nocte coenae

recumbens cum fratribus

observata lege plene

cibis in legalibus,

cibum turbae duodenae

se dat suis manibus.

Verbum caro, panem verum

verbo carnem efficit:

fitque sanguis Christi merum,

et si sensus deficit,

ad firmandum cor sincerum

sola fides sufficit.

Tantum ergo Sacramentum

veneremur cernui:

et antiquum documentum

novo cedat ritui:

praestet fides supplementum

sensuum defectui.

Genitori, Genitoque

laus et jubilatio,

salus, honor, virtus quoque

sit et benedictio:

Procedenti ab utroque

compar sit laudatio.

Amen. Alleluja.

Father's Day in Indianapolis

I received these photos this morning from my little brother who took his son Joshie racing in Indianapolis yestreday! How fun this looks... and he's in the 3-car!

 

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty

Perfect...

"Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty"
by Reginald Heber, 1783-1826


1. Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity!

2. Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Which wert and art and evermore shalt be.

3. Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see,
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in power, in love, and purity.

4. Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in Three Persons, blessed Trinity!

The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #246
Text: Rev. 4:8
Author: Reginald Heber, 1827
Composer: John B. Dykes, 1861
Tune: Nicaea

We All Believe in One True God

"We All Believe in One True God"
by Martin Luther, 1525

1. We all believe in one true God,
Who created earth and heaven,
The Father, who to us in love
Hath the right of children given.
He both soul and body feedeth,
All we need He doth provide us;
He through snares and perils leadeth,
Watching that no harm betide us.
He careth for us day and night,
All things are governed by His might.

2. We all believe in Jesus Christ,
His own Son, our Lord, possessing
An equal Godhead, throne, and might,
Source of every grace and blessing.
Born of Mary, virgin mother,
By the power of the Spirit,
Made true man, our elder Brother,
That the lost might life inherit;
Was crucified for sinful men
And raised by God to life again.

3. We all confess the Holy Ghost,
Who sweet grace and comfort giveth
And with the Father and the Son
In eternal glory liveth;
Who the Church, His own creation,
Keeps in unity of spirit.
Here forgiveness and salvation
Daily come through Jesus' merit.
All flesh shall rise, and we shall be
In bliss with God eternally. Amen.

Hymn #251
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: The Nicene Creed
Author: Martin Luther, 1525
Titled: "Wir glauben all' einen Gott"
Tune: "Wir glauben all' an einen Gott"

Click on the video link to hear this hymn

FOR MATH PEOPLE ONLY

Shoutout to @PlaceLogan - Wiz Chalupa to his friends - who directed me to reddit.com, where I found this, and many other stories worth re-telling.


You may absolutely not read this if you are not a math person.



There were three kingdoms, each bordering on the same lake. For centuries, these kingdoms had fought over an island in the middle of that lake. One day, they decided to have it out, once and for all. The first kingdom was quite rich, and sent an army of 25 knights, each with three squires. The night before the battle, the knights jousted and cavorted as their squires polished armor, cooked food, and sharpened weapons. The second kingdom was not so wealthy, and sent only 10 knights, each with 2 squires. The night before the battle, the knights cavorted and sharpened their weapons as the squires polished armor and prepared dinner. The third kingdom was very poor, and only sent one elderly knght with his sole squire. The night before the battle, the knight sharpened his weapon, while the squire, using a looped rope, slung a pot high over the fire to cook while he prepared the knight's armor.
The next day, the battle began. All the knights of the first two kingdoms had cavorted a bit too much (one should never cavort while sharpening weapons and jousting) and could not fight. The squire of the third kingdom could not rouse the elderly knight in time for combat. So, in the absence of the knights, the squires fought.
The battle raged well into the late hours, but when the dust finally settled, a solitary figure limped from the carnage. The lone squire from the third kingdom dragged himself away, beaten, bloodied, but victorious. And it just goes to prove, the squire of the high pot and noose is equal to the sum of the squires of the other two sides.

 

Oh, that I Had a Thousand Voices

"Oh, that I Had a Thousand Voices"
by Johann Mentzer, 1658-1734


1. Oh, that I Had a Thousand Voices
To praise my God with thousand tongues!
My heart, which in the Lord rejoices,
Would then proclaim in grateful songs
To all, wherever I might be,
What great things God hath done for me.

2. Dear Father, endless praise I render
For soul and body, strangely joined;
I praise Thee Guardian kind and tender,
For all the noble joys I find
So richly spread on every side
And freely for my use supplied.

3. I praise Thee, Savior, whose compassion
Hath brought Thee down to ransom me;
Thy pitying heart sought my salvation,
Though keenest woes were heaped on Thee,
Brought me from bondage full release,
Made me Thine own and gave me peace.

4. Glory and praise, still onward reaching,
Be Thine, O Spirit of all grace,
Whose holy power and faithful teaching
Give me among Thy saints a place!
Whate'er of good by me is done
Is of Thy grace and light alone.

5. Shall I not, then, be filled with gladness?
Shall I not praise Thee evermore
And triumph over fear and sadness,
E'en when my cup of woe runs o'er?
Though heaven and earth shall pass away,
Thy loving'kindness stands for aye.

Hymn #243
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Ps. 148:1
Author: Johann Mentzer, 1704, cento
Translated by: composite
Titled: "O dass ich tausend Zungen haette"
Composer: Kornelius Dretzel, 1731
Tune: "O dass ich tausend"

Muggy Wednesday

Overcast to-day and it seems it may either storm or clear up...one of the two. The weather was perfect over the weekend - I was blessed to get some petunias in the ground and then spend some time with family on Saturday at the lake. Moni worked. Sunday was restful for me other than doing a nifty pot of pulled pork with slaw but Moni worked.

My fantasy teams both won which I think has only happened one other time in eleven weeks. I think next year I may try a league where you updated your lineup daily, just for kicks and giggles.
I can't believe they're already talking about the All Star Game - in the Twin Cities this year.

If the rain holds off I may grill tonight, the Tigers play in southside Chicago at 8:10 Eastern (or 7:10 Central, as it is listed at google.com).

Quick shopping list for after work: meat to grill, asparagus, spaghetti fixins, macaroni and cheese, pop.



Dear Father in heaven,

Thank You for this day. I praise You, You are worthy of praise!
I confess my sins to You - wrong things I have done and right things I have failed to do.
I am thankful for so much; as we discussed this morning...
I pray now for our loved ones, for Your church and all its leaders and laymen - for protection, guidance, and strength: For Francis and all the bishops and priests, for Stan and Rita and Stan and Charlotte and Joey and Justin and Dana and Stosh (have mercy on his soul) and Stacie and Carter and Ryan and Emma and Mary Ann, Dean, Court, Rusty, Mason, Drew, Jake, Quinn Evelyn, Meggie, Brett, and Kacie E. For Aunt Pam and Ken and Kendall and Kenny, Terrence David and Jeanie and Rindy and Tighe and Sofia and Trent and Kevin and Justin and Michaels mom and Michael and Kalie and Kristine and Tori and Carolyn and Doug and Moni and Bob and Jon and Jay (have mercy on his soul) and Jen and beautiful Joslin and Liam Jason; for Denise and Meredith and Mom and Dad and Nancy and Ruben and Ray and Rick, Benny and Belle, Carlos and Alexander the Great, for Gary and Suzie and Joshua and Jeremy and Taylor. For Ron and Jeanna, Cas, Sofia, and Nina, for Mike and his wife and kids, and for Mike, Drake, and Drake's mom, for Mr. and Mrs. Mijal, for the two guys I sat at table with on my last Via de Cristo weekend, for Paul and his brother and mom and dad, for Roger and Sheri and Benjamin, for Tom and Shelley, for John and Betsie, little John and his sister, for Vic, Ninny, AJ, and Peggy, for Scott and Cindy and their kids, for oompa-loompa next door, for all the Swarthouts in our sub, and for Aunt Doreen, Vic, Dayna, Gray, Wendy, Adam and the boys, Jerry and his wife and kids and Uncle Butch, for Uncle Bill and Aunt Nancy and Brad, Brenda, Blake, Brooke, Kelli, Doug, Maren and the son, for Aunt Sue (have mercy on her soul) and Uncle Skip and Uncle Elt and Jeff and Dawn and their kids and Cathy and Frank and Jeff and their kids and Kimmi and Mario and their kids and Uncle Steve and Aunt Fran and Charley and Mary Ellen.
Thank You, Lord, and we love You, too. Amen amen amen 

Memorial of Saint Barnabas, Apostle

From the 11th of the Acts of the Apostles:

In those days a great number who believed turned to the Lord.
The news about them reached the ears of the Church in Jerusalem,
and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch.
When he arrived and saw the grace of God,
he rejoiced and encouraged them all
to remain faithful to the Lord in firmness of heart,
for he was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.
And a large number of people was added to the Lord.
Then he went to Tarsus to look for Saul,
and when he had found him he brought him to Antioch.
For a whole year they met with the Church
and taught a large number of people,
and it was in Antioch that the disciples
were first called Christians.

I remember when I heard a preaching on the section in Acts where we are told about the first time the word Christian was used to describe believers. I don't know why that particular event so stuck in my mind but I do enjoy learning about the history of everyday words or phrases.

And 'Christian' is certainly an everyday thing! As a child growing up in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and attending Lutheran schools for 13 years, I don't remember the term used as much as I remember singing Blind Man Stood By The Road and He Cried with Mr. Debelak and his guitar strumming.
We had a friend of the family with whom I did some ministry work in Detroit, and she would always ask, when informed of a new girlfriend, 'Is she Christian?'.
I would answer something like 'I think she's catholic (or methodist or lutheran or whatever)' and she would immediately re-inquire, 'No, I mean has she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour?'

Wow. I never really knew how to answer that.

Until I did indeed 'accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour' and joined the merry protesting throng of sola scriptura- pounding and TULIP-thumping FUNDAMENTALISTS.
Then I knew how to answer that question for every person that ever lived ever! 'He's a Christian, she's a Christian, he's not a Christian, she's not a Christian.' There were only two distinctions!
'Saved' was one of the synonyms. And I knew who was and who wasn't.

And I knew!!! I knew the eternal spiritual status of anyone's soul.

Black or white, no shades of grey.

Oh wait, there were further subcategories of believers. If you were sinning flagrantly and publicly, you were 'backslidden', as in 'Yeah, he's saved, but he's been back-sliding for the last couple of months.'.

I don't get it. I don't get how we were so informed so as to be able to peer into the heart and rightly discern what only God Himself can see.

I like to think of another song we used to sing, when I think of the word Christian. I like to hum in my head 'And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love, yes they'll know we are Christians by our love'.

That's how the world will know, Charlie Brown.

Come Thou Almighty King

Nearing Trinity Sunday; one of my favourite all time hymns. Missouri Synod Lutheran, Promise Keepers worship, Baptist, Non-denominational - I've sung this with all types of folks!

1. Come, Thou almighty King,
Help us Thy name to sing,
Help us to praise!
Father all-glorious,
O'er all victorious,
Come and reign over us,
Ancient of Days.

2. Come, Thou Incarnate Word,
Gird on Thy mighty sword,
Our prayer attend;
Come and Thy people bless
And give Thy Word success;
Stablish Thy righteousness,
Savior and Friend!

3. Come, holy Comforter,
Thy sacred witness bear
In this glad hour.
Thou, who almighty art,
Now rule in every heart
And ne'er from us depart,
Spirit of Power!

4. To the great One in Three
Eternal praises be
Hence evermore!
His sovereign majesty
May we in glory see
And to eternity
Love and adore!

The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: Rev. 4:8
Author: unknown, 1757, ab.
Composer: Felice de Giardini, 1769
Tune: Italian Hymn

Why I Like Chips So Much

Because they go so well with beer.

But seriously, I don't really know the reason.
I enjoy food of all sorts.
If I had to hierarchy the different food groups according to .... like, 'If I just got paid and hadn't eaten in two weeks, what would I first imbibe in?', here's my list

Pizza
Any fast food 'combination' of big, sloppy sandwich; hot greasy potato fries, and a tall cold aspartame-laden 'diet' beverage. Top choice here would be White Castle
A pork tenderloin done on the grill just right, butterflied and rolled up with cream cheese and herbs inside, juicy and tasty yesss it isss precioussss
A big rare bar-burger (I have been cooking burgers on the grill my entire life, and still cannot mimic the absolute good-ness of your local establishment's half pound of sirloin served on a kaiser roll with a fat kosher dill pickle sitting in the juices on the plate)
Sixteen pounds of Kentucky Fried Chicken. You may keep your 'sides', just give me the original recipe and I'm all set
About half of a half gallon of Aldi's Caramel Caribou ice cream
.
.
Any trio of good cooked meat; a savory potato dish (mashed, scalloped, augrautin, fried, baked as long as there's butter and chives to accommodate, 'bundled' - like the Pioneer Woman does hers, or wedged and barbecued); and a vegetable (asparagus, green beans, corn, a salad, broccoli, cauliflower, few others...)
.
.
.
Chips right out the bag (only certain flavoured varieties this way: Lays Sour Cream and Cheddar [#1], any of the Stax or Pringles varieties (not a bag, really, but similar scenario)
Corn chips with guacamole
Corn chips with my wife's bean/salsa/sour cream/cheddar cheese dip
Corn chips with meat, vegetables and cheese piled high (some places call this 'nachos')
Kroger Private Selection Strawberry Cheese Cake ice cream (In the last 35 years, the only product that has prompted a letter from me to the manufacturer praising its quality, It must also be said that in a Kroger grocery full of 'half gallons' that sell for between $2.25 and $3.00, I never see this particular brand below $4.69)


Apologies to the food groups I've neglected like milk and fruit. With the recent acquisition of a blender, I now consume both regularly in a morning smoothie, augmented with Ruby Reds.

Peace and love!

Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blest

1. Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest,
Vouchsafe within our souls to rest;
Come with Thy grace and heavenly aid
And fill the hearts which Thou hast made.

2. To Thee, the Comforter, we cry,
To Thee, the Gift of God Most High,
The Fount of life, the Fire of love,
The soul's Anointing from above.

3. The sevenfold gifts of grace are Thine,
O Finger of the Hand Divine;
True promise of the Father Thou,
Who dost the tongue with speech endow.

4. Thy light to every thought impart
And shed Thy love in every heart;
The weakness of our mortal state
With deathless might invigorate.

5. Drive far away our wily Foe
And Thine abiding peace bestow;
If Thou be our protecting Guide,
No evil can our steps betide.

6. Make Thou to us the Father known,
Teach us the eternal Son to won
And Thee, whose name we ever bless,
Of both the Spirit, to confess.

7. Praise we the Father and the Son
And Holy Spirit, with them One;
And may the Son on us bestow
The gifts that from the Spirit flow! Amen.

"Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blest"
by Rhabanus Maurus, 776-856
Translated by Edward Caswall, 1814-1878

Hymn #233
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: John 14:26
Author: Rhabanus Maurus, 856
Translated by: Edward Caswall, 1849, alt.
Titled: Veni, Creator Spiritus, Mentes
Tune: "Komm, Gott Schoepfer" based on "Veni, Creator Spiritus," c. 600

Monday, Monday

'I'm goin' to get a coffee', my bride proclaims, waking me to let me know she is adventuring out on her morning ritual. One gas station has the perfect blend of sugar, cocoa and whatever else goes into the powdered mix labeled 'French Vanilla Cappuccino'. She takes the portable coffee cup (it's not really a mug - it's not short and there's no handle) each time so as to only be charged a dollar, and I think she enjoys the daily visit with the nice ladies who man the cash registers.
After arriving back home, she feeds and waters the dog, feeds the cat (because he knows the correct manner in which to bother her in order to receive a timely meal) and usually does the dishes before I roll my fat ass out of our queen size antique bed with the springs coming through the mattress. She has her lunch packed, the laundry in the dryer, and is out the door before I can mumble 'gud moanin b'by' - and then she is down our little residential street quickly in the Grape with a clunk clunk off the curb.
I amble into the bathroom for a quick shave with my never-buy-this-again-no-matter-how-many-coupons-they-offer CVS Shave Gel (it's blue, and makes EVERYTHING IT TOUCHES blue also) and way-too-expensive Gillette Mach 3 blades.
I quick turn on the Sensationalist Journalism's Ten Time Winner Weather Channel to see if my suspicions about rain to-day are confirmed (you see, it's overcast, muggy, and starting to get breezy. I'm no dummy). They are, so I start closing windows, leaving the large fan blowing directly on the dog running loudly.
I quick check my Fantasy Baseball teams stats to see if I did indeed win week 9 and to see how much time I have before I have to finalise my roster. All Monday games usually start in the evening so I have all day.
My 2004 Ford Taurus took a little time making up its mind whether or not to start after sitting dormant all weekend. I hopped on northbound US 23 for about six miles and before I knew it - here I am!
Turn on lights, start coffee maker, turn on copier, turn on computer, grab cold water from fridge, check emails received over the weekend, respond to and file urgent messages, vow to return to not-so-urgent ones as time allows, check on the files we are hoping to close this week, text sweetie, pour my coffee, and settle in to the not-so-comfortable blue fabric covered office chair at my desk.
Here I will remain for the next nine or so hours, while processing, processing, processing.

Sola Deo Gloria

A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing

1. A Hymn of glory let us sing:
New songs throughout the world shall ring:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Chirst, by a road before untrod,
Ascendeth to the throne of God.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

2. The holy apostolic band
Upon the Mount of Olives stand;
Alleluia! Alleluia!
And with His followers they see
Jesus' resplendent majesty.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

3. To whom the angels, drawing nigh,
"Why stand and gaze upon the sky?
Alleluia! Alleluia!
This is the Savior!" thus they say;
"This is His noble triumph-day."
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

4. "Again shall ye behold Him so
As ye today have seen Him go,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
In glorious pomp ascending high,
Up to the portals of the sky."
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

5. Oh, grant us thitherward to tend
And with unwearied hearts ascend
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Unto Thy kingdom's throne, where Thou,
As is our faith, art seated now.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

6. Be Thou our Joy and strong Defense
Who art our future Recompense:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
So shall the light that springs from Thee
Be ours through all eternity.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

7. O risen Christ, ascended Lord,
All praise to Thee let earth accord,
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Who art, while endless ages run,
With Father and with Spirit One.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

by The Venerable Bede, 673-735
Translated by Benjamin Webb, 1820-1885

The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #212
Text: Acts 1: 11
Author: The Venerable Bede, 735
Translated by: Benjamin Webb, 1854, alt.
Titled: "Hymnum canamus gloriae"
Tune: "Lasst uns erfreuen"
1st Published in: _Geistliche Kirchengesaeng_
Town: Cologne, 1623