456. Epiphany 5 (Series C)

The lessons for this Sunday are Isaiah 6:1-8 (optional 9-13), 1 Corinthians 14:12b-20 and Luke 5:1-11. The tune is an isometric version of ICH WILL DICH LIEBEN that happens to fit the meter of this hymn. I found it in the American Lutheran Hymnal, where it was set to "All glory be to God alone," although a rhythmic (and metrically incompatible) version also occurs in that book. The tune, from a 1738 songbook out of Frankfurt am Main, is best known, across many Lutheran hymnals, as a vehicle for Johann Scheffler's hymn "Thee will I love, my Strength, my Tower," but this version of it may be a sufficient novelty to escape those strong associations. Other texts I've seen paired with this tune include "Awake, Thou Spirit, who didst fire" and "O who like Thee, so calm, so bright."

O fishermen of Galilee,
What kind of prophet can this be
Who, pressed upon the crowded beach,
Would from your anchored vessel preach!
Cast out, cast out at His command;
The sea itself is in His hand.

Turn eyes, concerned with daily care,
Upon the catch He summons there:
Then, fearing Him whose name you know,
Go where He summons you to go:
"Leave all for Me; the power win
To draw men forth from depths of sin."

As Simon knelt before God's Son,
Isaiah knew himself undone
Before God's angel-haunted throne,
Sin-stained and pow'rless to atone.
But hear again that pard'ning call
To speak the word, forsaking all.

To whate'er gifts you may aspire,
Be still before the Spirit's fire;
The awful majesty of God;
The way of sorrow Jesus trod.
Then, though men find His means absurd,
Go in the power of His word.

Go, pardoned of your load of guilt;
Go, walk the road His blood has built,
Expecting through His word to gain,
Though of yourself you'd toil in vain.
Go, leaving all in Jesus' hand,
And strain to bring your nets to land.