Jesus Christ is Risen Today, ELW 365
Devotion
Jesus Christ is ris'n today, Alleluia!
our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!
suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!
Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
unto Christ, our heav'nly king, Alleluia!
who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!
But the pains which he endured, Alleluia!
our salvation have procured; Alleluia!
now above the sky he's king, Alleluia!
where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!
Sing we to our God above, Alleluia!
praise eternal as his love; Alleluia!
praise him, all you heav'nly host, Alleluia!
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Alleluia!
This magnificent Latin hymn from the fourteenth century is most appropriately sung on Easter Sunday. For then we are finished with the solemnity of Lent with its somber tones and we can sing the "Alleluias" with great gusto and let our "Praise to the Lord" shake the rafters. But it seems to me that the resurrection of our Lord must be for us not just an Easter event, but an everyday event. In the same way that we remember and renew our baptismal dying and rising, so every day it is renewing for us to declare to ourselves and to one another, "Jesus lives."
It's very easy for us to become thoroughly enmeshed in the cares and concerns of this life and thus forget that we are "bound for Glory," precisely because Jesus died to redeem sinners. We need these reminders of whose we are!
Prayer
Thank you, Lord that you have plucked us from the slough of despond and have transplanted us into the Kingdom of everlasting light and life. Keep us strong in faith. In Jesus' name, Amen.