Today’s hymn from Sing Praise is ‘Come, Light of the World’ by Paul Inwood. It was new to me, and not easy to sing from sight unaccompanied, so I needed to hear John playing and singing it to pick up the tune properly.
The five verses each begin with that invocation ‘Come’, which places it firmly within the spirit of Advent. The five ways in which Christ is addressed are ‘Light of the world’, ‘Strength of our days’, ‘Joy for the world’, ‘Hope of the world’ and ‘Spirit of God’ (the last not being strictly addressed to Christ, except in so far as the Spirit ‘proceeds from the Father and the Son’ – but let’s not reopen that old argument!)
Likewise, in the course of these five verses we ask him to bless us in various ways: to dispel our darkness and be our light; to fill us with courage to follow him; to bring us together with singing, laughter and warmth in our lives; to heal our sorrow and bring us peace; and for the Spirit to fill us with truth, lighten our lives and inspire all we do.
It is, as John remarked, a very positive hymn, not at all in the penitential style of many Advent hymns, yet consistent with the Advent hope of one who is coming to change things for the better. Perhaps it’s just what we need at the moment, when the world is full of fear, hatred and disaster: not another reminder that we are sinners but a reminder that Christ comes to bring fulness of life.