That Easter Day With Joy Was Bright, ELW 384
1 That Easter day with joy was bright;
The sun shone out with fairer light,
When, to their longing eyes restored,
The apostles saw their risen Lord!
Alleluia!
2 O Jesus, king of gentleness,
With constant love our hearts possess;
To you our lips will ever raise
The tribute of our grateful praise.
Alleluia!
3 O Christ, you are the Lord of all
In this our Easter festival,
For you will be our strength and shield
From ev'ry weapon death can wield.
Alleluia!
4 All praise, O risen Lord, we give
To you, once dead, but now alive!
To God the Father equal praise,
And God the Holy Ghost, we raise!
Alleluia!
Devotion
When, to their longing eyes restored,
the apostles saw their risen Lord!
The eyes of the father were longing eyes, waiting to see the lost son return (Luke 15). The eyes of Moses longed to see, from a distance, the Promised Land (Deuteronomy 32:48-52). The eyes of the returning exiles, searched for a glimpse of Jerusalem (Jeremiah 29:10-14). Our eyes search for the New Jerusalem, the gift of the new creation (Revelation 21:1-2). Paul wrote that “creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God” (Romans 8:19).
In Christ the wait is nearly over. The apostles see Jesus, almost bringing our faith to completion. Our confidence is restored in some ways; in some ways, it is not. We can sing with joy, but it will sound better when the angels join us. Our hearts betray an incomplete joy, but one day loud shouting will come from every corner.
Prayer
You, Lord, were once seen by longing eyes. Our eyes will soon see you and we will join the heavenly choir, singing “Holy, holy, holy Lord.” Amen.