Continuing with the Roman Holiday theme, today’s focus is on a hymn from the Advent season. “Hark, a Thrilling Voice is Sounding” http://www.ccel.org/a/anonymous/luth_hymnal/tlh060.htm was translated by Edward Caswall in 1849 and based on a latin text.

It was based upon Romans 13:11 – “Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery and jealousy.”

Maybe it is my dislike of most of the unneccessary nonsense of today’s films and songs. Maybe it is because of enjoying a week of listening to some classic western radio plays – with little profanity and only a hint towards the crossing of a line without the imagery and sounds bombarding one’s senses.

Or maybe, as with most of the hymns reviewed, reflected upon and remembered, there is an absense of a baritone voice that projected these words, whatever the message, boldly, proudly and sometimes with a slightly different tempo and tone.  That earthbound soul has already found its way to heaven, singing among the angels.

The second half of the fourth verse is comforting: ‘He may shield us with His mercy And with words of love draw near.’ That is another constant reminder needed, to know that through Him, one is not a part of ‘the world wrapped in fear.’

When the eternal ages will begin is unknown, unmarked on our calendars here. However, soon, we will be where we were meant in heaven above.