Word of God come Down on Earth

This hymn is appropriate for Advent and Lent (invoking Jesus the word) and Easter (celebrating that the word has risen again).  The text is based on John 1:14, "And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory."

It was written by Scottish Roman Catholic priest and hymn-writer, James J Quinn SJ (1919-2010), and originally published in 1969 in his first collection, Hymns for All Seasons.

With meter 7.8.7.8.8.8, tunes it has been set to include:
  • LIEBSTER JESU composed by Johann Rudolph Ahle (1625-1673), 
  • MT. ST ALBAN NCA by Richard W. Dirksen


Jesus on the Cross - the word of God come down on earth



Downloads

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Examples

Church choir with organ and woodwinds:


University choir with organ backing, tune LIEBSTER JESU


Small group, unaccompanied, tune MT. ST ALBAN NCA


Duet with organ, tune LIEBSTER JESU


Singer, self-accompanied on guitar:


Instrumental - piano, with on-screen lyrics:


Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on this website.

A rough outline is
1 Word of God, come down on earth, living rain from heaven descending ...

2 Word eternal, throned on high, Word that brought to life creation ...

3 Word that caused blind eyes to see, speak and heal our mortal blindness ...

4 Word that speaks God's tender love, one with God beyond all telling ...

See more ...

KEEP IN CASE ORIGINAL IS REMOVED, BUT DO NOT DISPLAY

Word of God, come down on earth, living rain from heaven descending: touch our hearts and bring to birth faith and hope and love unending. Word almighty, we revere you; Word made flesh, we long to hear you. 2 Word eternal, throned on high, Word that brought to life creation, Word that came from heaven to die, crucified for our salvation; Saving Word, the world restoring, speak to us, your love outpouring. 3 Word that caused blind eyes to see, speak and heal our mortal blindness. Deaf we are: our healer be; loose our tongues to tell your kindness. Be our Word in pity spoken; heal the world by our sin broken. 4 Word that speaks God's tender love, one with God beyond all telling; Word that sends us from above God the Spirit, with us dwelling; Word of truth, to all truth lead us; Word of life, with one bread feed us.

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