This is thy love, my God!
Joy never-ending I in thee begin!
Thou sawest me afar from thine abode!
Thou hadst compassion! Thou past brought me in!
It was one great surprise
Along the way, beneath that noonday sun,
Since first I falter’d forth “I will arise!”
And groan’d: “I am not fit to be a son.”
Wrapt to my Father’s heart—
I felt His kiss, ere I could speak my shame:
Love, acting out its own amazing part—
Me, in my guilt, my ruin, overcame.
Thou didst provide the robe!
Didst tell thy servants to bring forth the best,
The ring, the shoes, thy gift upon the road,
Prepared me, home-returning, for thy rest.
Oh, it is holy ground!
Naught that defiles can ever touch me more.
Thy lost one, once the prodigal, is found.
My dark distrust, the famine time is o’er.
Now is the banquet spread;
The fatted calf, reserved for me, is kill’d;
I—perishing erewhile for want of bread,
Sit at thy feast: my cup by thee o’er-fill’d.
Thy festival I share!
“Where guests, at home, in all thine own delight,
With symphonies, with choral dance declare
THEE in thy grace, thy glory—LOVE and LIGHT!
H.