Jesus, Thou Joy Of Loving Hearts
Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts
Jesus, Thou joy of loving hearts!
Thou fount of life! Thou light of men!
From the best bliss that earth imparts,
We turn unfilled to Thee again.
Thy truth unchanged hath ever stood;
Thou savest those that on Thee call;
To them that seek Thee, Thou art good;
To them that find Thee, all-in-all.
We taste Thee, O Thou living bread,
And long to feast upon Thee still;
We drink of Thee, the fountainhead,
And thirst our souls from Thee to fill!
Our restless spirits yearn for Thee
Where’er our changeful lot is cast,
Glad, when Thy gracious smile we see,
Blest, when our faith can hold Thee fast.
O Jesus, ever with us stay;
Make all our moments calm and bright;
Chase the dark night of sin away;
Shed o’er the world Thy holy light!
Translated by Ray Palmer (1808–1887)
BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX knew what he was talking about. A nobleman by birth, he gave up his life of luxury to follow Christ. So when he writes about being “unfilled” by “the best bliss that earth imparts,” he knows.
The monastic life was often one of withdrawal. Monks had their own communities, which were largely self-sufficient. Thus they could work and pray in relative solitude. But Bernard broke out of that system and became an unusually public figure for a monk. He challenged popes and political leaders to live righteously. He urged professors to teach truth. He launched evangelistic campaigns.
We can learn much from Bernard’s example. We do need time for “calm and bright” moments alone with Christ. But we also need to let Him send us forth in service.
Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.
Philippians 3:8
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