This song from the collection “Songs for the Refugee Christ at Christmas” is taken from Isaiah 62: 1-5 the first reading of the Vigil of Christmas.
For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent,
and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest,
until her vindication shines out like the dawn,
and her salvation like a burning torch.
The nations shall see your vindication,
and all the kings your glory;
and you shall be called by a new name
that the mouth of the Lord will give.
You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord,
and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
You shall no more be termed Forsaken,
and your land shall no more be termed Desolate;
but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her,
and your land Married;
for the Lord delights in you,
and your land shall be married.
For as a young man marries a young woman,
so shall your builder marry you,
and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride,so shall your God rejoice over you.
(Isaiah 62: 1-5, NRSV)
In composing this song, I wanted the melody to reflect the central theme of this text, namely, To Rejoice! God does not hold grudges for past transgressions. Though Israel abandoned God for other gods, God remained faithful to Israel. God always offers us an opportunity for reconciliation. While humanity tends to hold grudges, God does not hold grudges. Rather, God continues to open a door for us to a deeper relationship. We have to choose to walk past the threshold of that door into that deeper relationship. The ultimate gesture of love to us was the Incarnation of Jesus, the Word of God.
