Tuesday, December 26, 2023  

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Today’s Hymn

On this day earth shall ring
with the song children sing
to the Lord, Christ our King,
born on earth to save us;
him the Father gave us.
Ideo, ideo,
ideo gloria in excelsis Deo!

His the doom, ours the mirth;
when he came down to earth
Bethlehem saw his birth;
ox and ass beside him
from the cold would hide him.
Ideo, ideo,
ideo gloria in excelsis Deo!

God’s bright star, o’er his head,
wise men three to him led;
kneel they low by his bed,
lay their gifts before him,
praise him and adore him.
Ideo, ideo,
ideo gloria in excelsis Deo!

On this day angels sing;
with their song earth shall ring,
praising Christ, heaven’s King,
born on earth to save us;
peace and love he gave us.
Ideo, ideo,
ideo gloria in excelsis Deo!

Piae Cantiones’s “On This Day Earth Shall Ring”
(tune: Personent Hodie)
from Glory to God: The Presbyterian Hymnal

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Reflection

“On This Day, Earth Shall Ring” (Personent Hodie) has always been my favorite Christmas carol. Maybe it’s the jubilant melody combined with the solemn harmony. Maybe it’s the lyrics, which encapsulate the entire Christmas story with almost haiku-like succinctness. Maybe it’s because it’s not one of the Top 10 Christmas carols, and so hearing it allows me to hear it anew each time. Maybe it’s the combination of simplicity and complexity that has allowed me to appreciate this carol more and more as I’ve grown.

I realized as I wrote this that the simplicity and the complexity of the music, the lyrics, and the accessibility of the carol reflect the amazing simplicity and the utter complexity of what God has done for us through Christ’s birth. Recognizing that we humans could not save ourselves, God sent God’s only son to live among us and then die for us. In some ways, it sounds straightforward and yet is anything but.

Christ came to earth.
Sheltered amongst animals.
Summoned wise men from afar.
Brought us peace, love, and salvation.

How absolutely simple and utterly complex. Gloria in excelsis Deo!

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Prayer
Holy God, in this Christmas season, we thank you for loving us always. Help us to live out the simplicity of your salvation through the complexity of life. Amen.

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Written by Lisa Stracks, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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