(chanted to no tune in particular)
BEFORE: by Julia Ward Howe
Mine eyes have seen the glory
of the coming of the Lord.
He is trampling out the vintage
where the grapes of wrath are
stored. He has loosed the fateful
lightning of His terrible swift
sword. His truth is marching on!
Glory, glory, Hallelujah!
Glory, glory, Hallelujah!
Glory, glory, Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on!
He has sounded forth the trumpet
that will never call retreat. He
is sifting out the hearts of men
before his judgment seat. Be
swift, my soul, to answer Him; be
jubilant, my feet. Our God is
marching on!
Glory, glory, Hallelujah!
Glory, glory, Hallelujah!
Glory, glory, Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on!
In the beauty of the lilies
Christ was born across the sea,
with a glory in His bosom that
transfigures you and me. As He
died to make men holy, let us die
to make men free. While God is
marching on!
Glory, glory, Hallelujah!
Glory, glory, Hallelujah!
Glory, glory, Hallelujah!
His truth is marching on!
AFTER: Sanitized for your protection
I see God’s approach; it is good.
God makes wine with God’s feet, from
non-union grapes. Brightness flashes
from the decision-making apparatus.
God’s worldview is currently earning
widespread respect.
Give honor repeatedly to the god
of our tradition.
We have owned our values.
A musical instrument is summoning
many people, including women of
color, into God’s presence for ongoing
evaluation. I must walk quickly
and say yes to this invitation.
God’s worldview, after all, is earning
widespread respect.
Give honor repeatedly to the god
of our tradition.
We have owned our values.
Our Faith Leader had a non-Western
agrarian background. His talents and
abilities changed our lives for the
better. We should make great efforts
for civil rights because he did for
world peace. God’s worldview, we
recall, is earning widespread
respect.
Give honor repeatedly to the god
of our tradition.
We have owned our values.
Paul V. Mankowski , S.J., is Assistant Professor of Semitic Languages at the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome.
Image by Rdsmith4 via Creative Commons. Image cropped.
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