Hues of the Rich

There is a wonderful poem by John Keble called, Hues of the Rich Un­fold­ing Morn. From it we get the familiar hymn, New Every Morning Is the Love.

New every morning is the love
Our wakening and uprising prove;
Through sleep and darkness safely brought,
Restored to life and power and thought.

It is based on a scripture quote from the Lamentations of Jeremiah 3: 22-24, which says, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘therefore I will hope in him.’”


This scripture and hymn came to mind because it is the First Sunday of Advent. Today, we begin a new liturgical (or Church) year. It is like New Years’ Day. Yet another excuse, as if we needed one, to celebrate the love of God and how God’s love rises new every morning in each of us. Yes, that’s right; God’s love rises new every morning in each of us. Another line in the hymn says:

Old friends, old scenes, will lovelier be,
As more of heaven in each we see;

There is cause for hope all around. And just as the hours of sunlight decrease every day, most assuredly they will begin increasing again, and soon. And if we see one another in the true light, the light of God, each of us, “will lovelier be.”
What more needs to be said? What a wonderful resolution for the new liturgical year? To see one another as God sees us.

And help us, this and every day,
To live more nearly as we pray.