"Of the Father's Love Begotten" is one of the great poetic expressions of the doctrine of the Trinity. Prudentius praises Christ as the second person of the Trinity, declaring him Alpha and Omega, begotten not made before the universe was created. This text really captures the cosmic implications of Christ's coming and emphasizes what we have learned about God's loving purposes for the universe through the Incarnation.
If you place this hymn in conversation with some of the others we have been thinking about, you will begin to understand the depth of the mystery of the Incarnate God. The source of all things, the Alpha, submitted to the poverty of the manger and the suffering of human life. The Omega, the ending of all things, submitted to a violent and painful death at the hands of his own creation. The God who spoke the universe into existence chose to save it in the most humble, unpretentious way.
I wonder if we can take the phrase, "He is Alpha and Omega, he the source, the ending he" one step further this Christmas. Although it is a wild claim, Christians do assert that Jesus was the Alpha and Omega of the world. But do enough of us live as if Jesus is our Alpha and Omega? It is very easy when one accumulates wealth, power, and privilege in this world, to forget who one's source and ending is. The psalmist says, "O Lord, you have searched me and known me...You hem me in, behind and before...It was you who formed my inward parts, you knit me together in my mother's womb." Do we believe that God is our source? That God creates and sustains us? That when we die, we will pass into God's all-consuming love and account for the way we lived our lives?
If we did, more of us might be willing to relinquish our power, our privilege, and our wealth for the kingdom of God that Jesus preached while he was on the earth. We might be more passionate about the things that God cares about, and less consumed by the things that our culture claims are sources of life and health. If we did, we might be able to say more boldly with Prudentius and the Church that "powers, dominions bow before" Christ, and that our allegiance is not to the power of money or the dominion of America, but to God, our King. Who is our Alpha and Omega? It's worth pondering this Christmas.
You are encouraged to enter into a time of silent confession and meditation followed by the closing prayer.
If you place this hymn in conversation with some of the others we have been thinking about, you will begin to understand the depth of the mystery of the Incarnate God. The source of all things, the Alpha, submitted to the poverty of the manger and the suffering of human life. The Omega, the ending of all things, submitted to a violent and painful death at the hands of his own creation. The God who spoke the universe into existence chose to save it in the most humble, unpretentious way.
I wonder if we can take the phrase, "He is Alpha and Omega, he the source, the ending he" one step further this Christmas. Although it is a wild claim, Christians do assert that Jesus was the Alpha and Omega of the world. But do enough of us live as if Jesus is our Alpha and Omega? It is very easy when one accumulates wealth, power, and privilege in this world, to forget who one's source and ending is. The psalmist says, "O Lord, you have searched me and known me...You hem me in, behind and before...It was you who formed my inward parts, you knit me together in my mother's womb." Do we believe that God is our source? That God creates and sustains us? That when we die, we will pass into God's all-consuming love and account for the way we lived our lives?
If we did, more of us might be willing to relinquish our power, our privilege, and our wealth for the kingdom of God that Jesus preached while he was on the earth. We might be more passionate about the things that God cares about, and less consumed by the things that our culture claims are sources of life and health. If we did, we might be able to say more boldly with Prudentius and the Church that "powers, dominions bow before" Christ, and that our allegiance is not to the power of money or the dominion of America, but to God, our King. Who is our Alpha and Omega? It's worth pondering this Christmas.
You are encouraged to enter into a time of silent confession and meditation followed by the closing prayer.
Closing Prayer
Almighty God, Alpha and Omega, bend our will to yours this Christmas. Recapture our hearts and our imaginations through the wonder of your birth that we might dream dreams of your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven. Remind us of our source. Amen.
Of the Father’s love begotten, ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega, he the source, the ending he,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see, evermore and evermore!
At his Word the worlds were framèd; he commanded; it was done:
Heaven and earth and depths of ocean in their threefold order one;
All that grows beneath the shining
Of the moon and burning sun, evermore and evermore!
He is found in human fashion, death and sorrow here to know,
That the race of Adam’s children doomed by law to endless woe,
May not henceforth die and perish
In the dreadful gulf below, evermore and evermore!
O that birth forever blessèd, when the virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving, bare the Savior of our race;
And the babe, the world’s Redeemer,
First revealed his sacred face, evermore and evermore!
This is he whom seers in old time chanted of with one accord;
Whom the voices of the prophets promised in their faithful word;
Now he shines, the long expected,
Let creation praise its Lord, evermore and evermore!
O ye heights of heaven adore him; angel hosts, his praises sing;
Powers, dominions, bow before him, and extol our God and King!
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert sing, evermore and evermore!
Righteous judge of souls departed, righteous King of them that live,
On the Father’s throne exalted none in might with thee may strive;
Who at last in vengeance coming
Sinners from thy face shalt drive, evermore and evermore!
Thee let old men, thee let young men, thee let boys in chorus sing;
Matrons, virgins, little maidens, with glad voices answering:
Let their guileless songs re-echo,
And the heart its music bring, evermore and evermore!
Christ, to thee with God the Father, and, O Holy Ghost, to Thee,
Hymn and chant with high thanksgiving, and unwearied praises be:
Honor, glory, and dominion,
And eternal victory, evermore and evermore!
Rev. Stephen Stacks
Of the Father's Love Begotten (CG #113)
He is Alpha and Omega, he the source, the ending he,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see, evermore and evermore!
At his Word the worlds were framèd; he commanded; it was done:
Heaven and earth and depths of ocean in their threefold order one;
All that grows beneath the shining
Of the moon and burning sun, evermore and evermore!
He is found in human fashion, death and sorrow here to know,
That the race of Adam’s children doomed by law to endless woe,
May not henceforth die and perish
In the dreadful gulf below, evermore and evermore!
O that birth forever blessèd, when the virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving, bare the Savior of our race;
And the babe, the world’s Redeemer,
First revealed his sacred face, evermore and evermore!
This is he whom seers in old time chanted of with one accord;
Whom the voices of the prophets promised in their faithful word;
Now he shines, the long expected,
Let creation praise its Lord, evermore and evermore!
O ye heights of heaven adore him; angel hosts, his praises sing;
Powers, dominions, bow before him, and extol our God and King!
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert sing, evermore and evermore!
Righteous judge of souls departed, righteous King of them that live,
On the Father’s throne exalted none in might with thee may strive;
Who at last in vengeance coming
Sinners from thy face shalt drive, evermore and evermore!
Thee let old men, thee let young men, thee let boys in chorus sing;
Matrons, virgins, little maidens, with glad voices answering:
Let their guileless songs re-echo,
And the heart its music bring, evermore and evermore!
Christ, to thee with God the Father, and, O Holy Ghost, to Thee,
Hymn and chant with high thanksgiving, and unwearied praises be:
Honor, glory, and dominion,
And eternal victory, evermore and evermore!
Rev. Stephen Stacks
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