Canticle of the Turning

As we enter this Advent season, I’m finding it difficult to contemplate what is down the road for the next four years (and beyond). Like so many folks, I feel betrayed by so many of my countrymen that wear the banner of patriotism while espousing ideas that are so far from why I am proud of what America has stood for for so long. I am saddened that hate and selfishness seem to have won the day over compassion and community. I am angered that so much of this regression of our society has happened in the name of (a highly perverted version of) Christianity.

In the midst of this angst, our worship included the hymn “Canticle of the Turning.” I have always enjoyed this hymn for primarily for its driving tune and for a lesser extent the lyrics. But NOW, the words have taken on a new message of hope that I sorely need to hear right now. No, I don’t believe that we will see this “turning” in the next few years. I must be content with the long term version. Human history has seen tyrants rise and tyrants fall. We have seen oppression of the powerless by those with power. We have seen good people stand up in response and say, “no… we are better than this.”

My prayer is that the world turn sooner rather than later.

My soul cries out with a joyful shout
that the God of my heart is great,
And my spirit sings of the wondrous things
that you bring to the one who waits.
You fixed your sight on the servant's plight,
and my weakness you did not spurn,
So from east to west shall my name be blest.
Could the world be about to turn?

Refrain:
My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears,
For the dawn draws near,
And the world is about to turn.

Though I am small, my God, my all,
you work great things in me.
And your mercy will last from the depths of the past
to the end of the age to be.
Your very name puts the proud to shame,
and those who would for you yearn,
You will show your might, put the strong to flight,
for the world is about to turn. (Refrain)

From the halls of power to the fortress tower,
not a stone will be left on stone.
Let the king beware for your justice tears
every tyrant from his throne.
The hungry poor shall weep no more,
for the food they can never earn;
These are tables spread, ev'ry mouth be fed,
for the world is about to turn. (Refrain)

Though the nations rage from age to age,
we remember who holds us fast:
God's mercy must deliver us
from the conqueror's crushing grasp.
This saving word that our forbears heard
is the promise that holds us bound,
'Til the spear and rod be crushed by God,
who is turning the world around. (Refrain)

And for those of you that know your gospel stories, this hymn is a paraphrase of the Magnificat (Luke 1: 46-58), the song of joy sung by Mary when she learned that she would be the mother of the Messiah.