light reflections

Ambrose of Milan

“In him was life, and that life was the light of men.” – John 1:4.  Earlier this morning I was playing a few hymns at my piano, and stumbled across this ancient hymn by Ambrose of Milan, 340-397.

O Splendor of God’s glory bright,
From light eternal bringing light,
Thou light of light, light’s living Spring,
True Day, all days illumining:

Come, very Sun of heaven’s love,
In lasting radiance from above,
And pour the Holy Spirit’s ray
On all we think or do today.

And now to thee our prayers ascend,
O Father, glorious without end;
We plead with sovereign grace for pow’r
To conquer in temptation’s hour.

Confirm our will to do the right,
And keep our hearts from envy’s blight;
Let faith her eager fires renew,
And hate the false, and love the true.

O joyful be the passing day
With thoughts as pure as morning’s ray,
With faith like noontide shining bright,
Our souls unshadowed by the night.

Dawn’s glory gilds the earth and skies,
Let him, our perfect Morn, arise,
The Work in God the Father one,
The Father imaged in the Son.

His hymn was set to WINCHESTER NEW, which I assume was a new version of WINCHESTER in Hamburg back in 1690 when it was included in the Musikalisches Handbuch.

Tunes may come and go, lyrics may be translated from 4th century Latin to 20th century English, but the light of Christ shines through the ages.  Pray that I will increasingly reflect Jesus’ glory while I’m raising support here in Chattanooga, and when I reach Kiev.