Advent Prayers for Christ-Seekers December 9

Morning Star

Morning Star, O cheering sight!
Ere Thou cam’st, how dark the night!
Jesus mine, in me shine,
Fill my heart with light divine.

Morning Star, thy glory bright
Far excels the sun’s clear light,
Jesus be, constantly,
More than thousand suns to me.

From a Moravian Hymn
Johannes Scheffler, 1657

When living in Philadelphia, we were privileged to journey to Bethlehem (Pennsylvania, not Judea) to attend a traditional Christmas observance known as the Moravian Love Feast. Surrounded by the soft glow of the beeswax candles, we sang of the herald angels, the shepherds watching o’er their flocks by night, and the child in a manger. Coffee and sweet rolls were shared during the service, an expression of the love feast marked within the Moravian Church.
It is from this tradition that we pray the prayer of the morning star. “Jesus mine, in me shine, Jesus be, constantly, more than thousand suns to me.’ Jesus said, “I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star” (Rev. 22:16). The morning star proclaims that the night has ended, that new light has come.
It is no coincidence that within the Moravian tradition, this carol-prayer a responsive one, led by children as Isaiah 11 promises. “A little child shall lead them.” So we pray today the child-like, profound words as the light of the Morning Star shines upon us: Jesus mine, in me shine.”