Below is a hymn I have written, loosely based on the historic Gospel text appointed for Trinity 12, Mark 7:31-37. Incorporated into this hymn are similar elements to those found in the Gospel text, as I had hoped to expand on this week’s Gospel’s hopeful and encouraging theme in the hymn. Christ works in mysterious and marvelous ways—thanks be to God!
The hymn is set to the tune of “Rejoice, Rejoice Believers,” LSB 515, a lovely tune that (hopefully) pairs well with the text. The tune is named HAF TRONES LAMPA FÄRDIG, a Swedish tune in the public domain, arranged by Henry V. Gerike, b. 1948.
All praise to Christ, our Victor,
Who triumphed over death;
He reigns, our great Redeemer,
Foundation of our faith.
Each illness and affliction
Is under His domain—
And He, our one salvation,
Can ease each troubling pain.
The blind, whose sight is failing,
Are made to see once more;
All those in darkness wailing
Desire His mighty pow’r.
They have through faith the healing
That comes from Christ alone.
Now we with faith are kneeling
Before His glorious throne.
The deaf, all those unhearing,
Are made to hear His voice;
And they, in faith unfearing,
With grateful thanks rejoice.
He crushed every sadness
That would His grace oppress;
His never-ending gladness
Each faithful heart will bless.
The mute, whose tongues were silenced
By nature’s deafening blow,
Have been by Christ unsilenced,
His endless grace to know.
With all the saints in glory
They sing the timeless song
And shout the Gospel story
With that unsilenced throng.
Whatever ills befall you
Cannot His pow’r disarm;
Each woe that could enthrall you
Will never cause you harm,
For He will ever quicken
The bold and faithful heart;
All those by illness stricken
Shall from their angst depart.
His healing touch is kindness,
A word of grace and peace;
He cures the haunts of blindness
And make our sorrows cease.
He makes us hear His calling,
Whatever we may be;
And death, its sting appalling,
He crushed in victory.
The Sacraments He gives us
To taste and see and know,
And through these He forgives us,
This glorious truth to show:
These means shall be a blessing
To all who come in faith,
Who, Jesus’ name confessing,
Shall pass to life through death.
All praise to God the Father,
Whose Son brings life and grace,
And to the Holy Spirit
Our thankful praises raise.
He makes us whole with gladness
And sanctifies each heart;
Freed from all woe and sadness,
Our praise to Him impart.
Wow, I really like the link between the healing of the blind, deaf, and mute to see, taste hear, and know Word and Sacrament. That is brilliant. If I can add a criticism, it irks me to see "silenced" rhymed with "unsilenced". That would keep me up nights if I had written it.
Pretty cool! I had never heard the original tune, which I like a lot. I also like that someone out there still writes epic hymns.
I think I discovered the right tune:
https://youtu.be/s6i0OAuZLOs?si=BmfBfOGxlZbtNybo