Devotion
Christ is risen! Alleluia!
Risen our victorious head!
Sing his praises! Alleluia!
Christ is risen from the dead!
Gratefully our hearts adore him
as his light once more appears;
bowing down in joy before him,
rising up from griefs and tears.
Refrain
Christ is risen! Alleluia!
Risen our victorious head!
Sing his praises! Alleluia!
Christ is risen from the dead!
Christ is risen! All the sadness
of our Lenten fast is o'er;
through the open gates of gladness
he returns to life once more;
death and hell before him bending
see him rise, the victor now,
angels on his steps attending,
glory round his wounded brow. Refrain
Christ is risen! All the sorrow
that last evening round him lay
now has found a glorious morrow
in the rising of today.
See the grave its first-fruits giving,
springing up from holy ground;
Christ was dead, but now is living;
he was lost, but he is found. Refrain
Christ is risen! Henceforth never
death or hell shall us enthrall.
We are Christ's, in him forever
we have triumphed over all.
All the doubting and dejection
of our trembling hearts have ceased;
hail the day of resurrection!
Let us rise and keep the feast.
"See the grave its first-fruits giving, springing up from holy ground. Christ was dead, but now is living; he was lost, but he is found." This hymn speaks of Jesus as "first-fruits" from the grave. It reminds us that Jesus is the first one to be raised from the dead to life eternal, but he won't be the only one.
Think back to the New Testament reading from a few days ago. St. John said, "Beloved, we are God's children now," and one day "we will be like him, for we will see him as he is." All of God's people will one day join our Lord in resurrected life! When we live in such promises, we can sing with confidence: "bowing down in joy before him, rising up from griefs and tears." Our very real earthly sorrows don't get the last word, for our God is a God of life—wondrous and joyful, abundant and eternal!
Prayer
Gracious Lord, we live with the reality of suffering and death. At the same time, we look beyond this reality to the promise of eternal life with you, where sorrow will be no more. Grant us confidence in that promise, made sure and certain in Jesus Christ, our risen Lord. Amen.