Awake, the voice is calling us!

"Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme" (literally: Awake, the voice is calling us) is a Lutheran hymn written in German by Philipp Nicolai, first published in 1599 together with "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern". 

It appears in German hymnals and in several English hymnals in translations such as "Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying" (Catherine Winkworth, 1858), "Wake, O wake! with tidings thrilling" (Francis Crawford Burkitt, 1906), and "Up! Awake! From Highest Steeple" (George Ratcliffe Woodward, 1908). 

The hymn is known as the foundation of J.S. Bach's chorale cantata Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140, as well as being the foundation of settings by other composers.

P. Nicolai wrote the hymn in 1598, a time when the plague had hit. - Source:  BachCantatas.com

Wake up, the voice calls us
of the watchmen high up on the battlements,
wake up, you city of Jerusalem!
This hour is called midnight;
they call us with a clear voice:
where are you, wise virgins ?
Get up, the bridegroom comes;
Stand up, take your lamps! Hallelujah!
Alleluia!
Make yourselves ready
for the wedding,
you must go to meet him!

Zion hears the watchmen sing,
her heart leaps for joy,
she awakes and gets up in haste.
Her friend comes from heaven in his splendour,
strong in mercy, mighty in truth.
Her light becomes bright, her star rises.
Now come, you worthy crown,
Lord Jesus, God’s son!
Hosanna!
We all follow
to the hall of joy
and share in the Lord’s supper.

May gloria be sung to you
with the tongues of men and angels,
with harps and with cymbals.
The gates are made of twelve pearls,
in your city we are companions
of the angels on high around your throne.
No eye has ever perceived,
no ear has ever heard
such joy.
Therefore we are joyful,
hurray, hurray!
for ever in sweet rejoicing.

Advent 1

Advent, (from Latin adventus, “coming”), in the Christian church calendar, the period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas and also of preparation for the Second Coming of Christ.

• In Western churches, Advent begins on the Sunday nearest to November 30 (St. Andrew’s Day) and is the beginning of the liturgical year.
• In many Eastern churches, the Nativity Fast is a similar period of penance and preparation that occurs during the 40 days before Christmas. The date when the season was first observed is uncertain.
• Bishop Perpetuus of Tours (461–490) established a fast before Christmas that began on November 11 (St. Martin’s Day), and the Council of Tours (567) mentioned an Advent season.

Source: Britanica.com

a woke OR AWAKE?

I’m uncertain in these last days of the Common Era (once commonly called Anno Domini, literally “in the year of our Lord“ IF our church is woke or awake.

(See link to ‘woke’ on TalkofJESUS.com cover page to learn more.)

I’m also not certain if Linus reading Luke is the anti-inclusive message of the Gospel which offends the Holiday spirits of TV audiences, but I suspect that our aversion to ‘christmas‘ with a capital CHRIST (Christ-mass) is a deepening darkness as evident as the coming winter solstice.

The title for this non-series for Advent ignored and ‘christian‘ ‘churches‘ CLOSED on christmas eve, christmas day or BOTH reflects my own nonplus question of why it seems so few christians really want to TALK OF JESUS at all, especially those of our local ‘church.’

Roger@TalkofJESUS.com

In previous years I have also prepared our hearts for Advent.

In fact, December in the year of our Lord 2022 seems to be a time to gather the oil for our lamps that at least some of the virgins might be prepared for Christmas .. in fact, prepared for more.

the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew

Doctrinally, it must be repeated that the belief in the Virgin birth of Christ is of the highest value for the right apprehension of Christ’s unique and sinless personality.

R. A. Torrey :: The Virgin Birth of Christ

The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham..

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: 

When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, 

she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.

Gospel of Matthew 1:18 – King James Version

Therefore, Sleepers AWAKE!

Parable of Ten Virgins

“Then the kingdom of heaven may be compared to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were foolish, and five were prudent.

“For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps.

“Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. But at midnight there was a shout,

‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’

“Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’

“But the prudent answered, saying, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’

“And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast;

and the door was shut.

“And later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’

“But he answered and said, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’

This hour is called midnight;
they call us with a clear voice:
where are you, wise virgins ?

Advent AD 2022: Are YOU awake?

A Savior IS come.
Christ died. Christ IS risen! Christ will come again.

Are YOU preparing your soul with the oil of Christ’s anointing in the advent of His return?