Meditation for Ascensiontide
Lyrics Copyright ( C ) David Horsman 2004
O Holy Jesu, whither art thou taken?
Didst show the way, nay didst thyself become it ,
'Twas in our nature, this meandering madness.
O blessed Saviour, after death on calvary,
Thou wast no spirit, when to thy disciples,
Let us like Thomas contemplate those woundings;
Then came the day wherein thou Lord didst leave us,
Thou Lord didst leave us with that precious promise,
Then give we glory to the Blessed Father;
Tune "Herzliebster Jesu," 1640
Gone from our sight, ascended into heaven.
Yet, we remember, how when lost in darkness,
Thou didst o'ertake us;
whereby we travel back to God our Father,.
Who long were exiled from the Father's favor,
by disobedience.
Only the God-man could become our pathway.
Dying he saved us, pierced feet the icon
of our salvation.
there was no grave that ever could entomb thee.
So, on the third day, thou didst burst thy prison,
rose as immortal.
on that blessed morning, thou didst show thy body:
side where spear pierced it whence came forth the
water, blood flowing freely.
thrust hand into thy side whence flowed the water,
mixed with the blood that purchased our salvation;
give thee our troth, Lord
back to the heavens, taking our flesh with thee,
showing those wounds, at very throne of mercy;
pleading there for us
to send thy Spirit ever to be with us,
Comforter always, leading into all truth
till endless ages.
To thee O Son and to the Holy Spirit
One in three persons, from the endless ages
world without ending.