O quickly come – A hymn for Advent

Introduction

The hymn, O quickly come, dread Judge of all: words by Lawrence Tuttiet, 1825 – 1897, (number 13 in the New English Hymnal) offers a framework around which to think and pray over the four Sundays and weeks of Advent. Each of the four verses has its own theme: God as Judge; God as King; true Life; sure Light. These remind us of the Second Coming at the End Times: the traditional focus for the season of Advent.

The four reflections each offer a verse of the hymn, some texts to contemplate and suggestions for prayer.

If you wish to hear the hymn tune you can find it as follows:
to the tune Vater unser (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RETEKEqpDBI or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IObuwhH9FrQ)
to the tune Melita (the tune for Eternal Father strong to save … for those in peril on the sea) can also be used https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kJlncfbJJo

3rd Sunday of Advent

O quickly come, true Life of all;
For death is mighty all around;
On every home his shadows fall,
On every heart his mark is found.
O quickly come, for grief and pain
Can never cloud Thy glorious reign.

‘The spirit of God has made me and the breath of the Almighty gives me life’. [Job 33. 4]
‘I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly’. [John10. 10]
‘He is God not of the dead, but of the living’. [Luke 20. 38]
‘He must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death’. [1 Corinthians 15. 25 – 26]

You, Christ, overcame the sting of death
and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. (Te Deum)

We thank you, Father, that you sent your Son, Jesus,
to redeem us from sin and death
and to make us inheritors of everlasting life.

Give us life again that we may rejoice in you.
Bring your healing to us in our weakness and distress.
Break the power of evil
and prepare us to be partakers of your glory.

Holy God, holy and strong, holy and immortal:
have mercy on us.