LBW #132, stanzas 1 & 2, “Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain”
Devotion
Come you faithful, raise the strain of triumphant gladness!
God has brought his Israel into joy from sadness,
Loosed from Pharoah’s bitter yoke Jacob’s sons and daughters,
Led them with unmoistened foot through the Red Sea waters.
‘Tis the spring of souls today; Christ has burst his prison,
And from three days’ sleep in death as a sun has risen;
All the winter of our sins, Long and dark, is flying
From his light, to whom is giv’n laud and praise undying.
Easter Sunday starts on its eve, so celebrations begin on Saturday night with the Great Vigil of Easter: a new fire, the lighting of the Paschal candle, the Easter announcement, Biblical readings that tell the whole story of God’s deliverance, baptisms, and the first Easter communion. We “raise the strain of triumphant gladness” because Israel is “loosed from Pharaoh’s bitter yoke,” “Christ has burst his prison,” and shadows now disappear not in darkness, but in new light. We celebrate bondage to freedom, fast to feast, death to new life, sadness to joy. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed.
Prayer
God, you give us the joy of celebrating our Lord’s resurrection. Give us also the joys of life in your service. Amen.