Advent, Day 4: Healing of Nations

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city. On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month, and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

—Revelation 22:1–2

LOOK: Tree of Life by Kateryna Shadrina

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LISTEN: “For the Healing of the Nations” | Words by Fred Kaan, 1965, © Hope Publishing Company | Music by Henry Purcell, 1680, arr. Hartmut Bietz | Performed by the Consolatio Choir Universitas Sumatera Utara, 2020

For the healing of the nations,
God, we pray with one accord;
for a just and equal sharing
of the things that earth affords;
to a life of love in action
help us rise and pledge our word.

Lead us forward into freedom;
from despair your world release,
that, redeemed from war and hatred,
all may come and go in peace.
Show us how through care and goodness
fear will die and hope increase.

All that kills abundant living,
let it from the earth be banned;
pride of status, race, or schooling,
dogmas that obscure your plan.
In our common quest for justice
may we hallow life’s brief span.

You, Creator God, have written
your great name on humankind;
for our growing in your likeness
bring the life of Christ to mind,
that by our response and service
earth its destiny may find.