A hymn about our Companion on the Way

I was privileged to attend a hymn festival Monday night and sing some wonderful "new" hymns from the LC-MS' new hymnal, Lutheran Service Book (LSB). I say "new" because many texts and tunes are either quite ancient, appeared in our hymnals previously and then were lost, or have been sung by the rest of Christendom for some time. Back to the point . . .

Hymn 476 in LSB: Who Are You Who Walk in Sorrow

Who are you who walk in sorrow
down Emmaus' barren road,
Hearts distraught and hope defeated,
Bent beneath grief's crushing load?
Nameless mourners, we will join you,
We who also mourn our dead;
We have stood by graves unyielding,
Eaten death's bare bitter bread.

Who is this who joins our journey,
Walking with us stride by stride?
Unknown Stranger, can you fathom
Depths of grief for one who died?
Then the wonder! When we told You
How our dreams to dust have turned,
Then You opened wide the Scriptures
Till our hearts within us burned.

Who are You? Our hearts are opened
In the breaking of the bread-
Christ the victim, now the victor
Living, risen from the dead!
Great companion on our journey,
Still surprise us with Your Grace!
Make each day a new Emmaus;
On our hearts Your image trace!

Who are we who travel with You
On our way through life to death?
Women, men, the young, the aging,
Wakened by the Spirit's breath!
At the font You claim and name us,
Born of water and the Word;
At the table still You feed us,
Host us as our risen Lord!

"Alleluia! Alleluia!"
Is the Easter hymn we sing!
Take our life, our joy, our worship
As the gift of love we bring.
You have formed us all one people
Called from every land and race.
Make the Church Your servant body,
Sent to share Your Healing grace!


Singing this was absolutely beautiful. The organist began with timpani which sounded like a death march. A little odd for the cheery tune that is "Jefferson" from Southern Harmony, but is worked beautifully. As the "Companion" made Himself known the tone of the music changed until the final verse was this wonderfully strong and triumphant chorus, ending on a major chord. Masterful.

I hope you get to sing is sometime soon.

~Companion