December 24, Vicar Joseph Greenmyer

“Of the Father’s Love Begotten” (LSB 384 ) 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.

Oh, that birth forever blessed, When the virgin, full of grace, By the Holy Ghost conceiving, Bore 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 heav'n, adore Him; Angel hosts, His praises sing, Pow'rs, dominions, bow before Him And extol our God and King. Let no tongue on earth be silent, Ev'ry voice in concert ring Evermore and evermore.

Christ, to Thee, with God the Father, And, O Holy Ghost, to Thee Hymn and chant and high thanksgiving And unending praises be, Honor, glory, and dominion, And eternal victory Evermore and evermore.

A faithful son of the church is always doomed to fail when he comments on the words of his fathers. The hymn, “Corde natus ex parentis,” remains one of the greatest hymns of what our Catalog of Testimonies would call, “the ancient and pure church,” (Triglotta, 1107). I pray that it be sung in our churches to commemorate our Lord’s Incarnation, “ever more and ever more.”

God is Love, the apostle writes (1 John 4:8). Love caused Christ’s Incarnation; Love brought Him down to us. God turned to us a Father’s heart and did not choose the easy part. He gave His dearest Treasure. In turning to us a Father’s heart, He sent the Son, begotten of His Father’s love from before all worlds. He who was begotten, not made, was made man. He did this willingly, not due to a failure of power but as a condescension of pity.

His birth of a woman came in the fullness of time (Galatians 4:4-5). The Holy Ghost overshadowed the highly favored virgin. A baby is born with a sacred countenance, to whom all the heavenly armies bend the knee in fealty. Thus stepped forth the Lord of all from His pure and kingly hall. God of God, yet fully man, His heroic course began (LSB 332). And not only angels salute the God-Man, but also the glorious company of the apostles, the goodly fellowship of the prophets, and the noble army of martyrs. Every voice in concert rings, “evermore and evermore.”

Vicar Joseph Greenmyer

Christ Academy: College Student, 2017- 2018 Christ Academy: High School Proctor, 2018-2020 Christ Academy: Student Director, 2021-2022