On Our Way Rejoicing, ELW 537
Devotion
On our way rejoicing
gladly let us go.
Christ our Lord has conquered;
vanquished is the foe.
Christ without, our safety;
Christ within, our joy;
who, if we be faithful,
can our hope destroy?
Refrain
On our way rejoicing;
as we forward move,
hearken to our praises,
O blest God of love!
Unto God the Father
joyful songs we sing;
unto God the Savior
thankful hearts we bring;
unto God the Spirit
bow we and adore,
on our way rejoicing
now and evermore. (Refrain)
This hymn is often used as a recessional at the end of worship. It is a very positive and uplifting hymn, and thus a great way to conclude a worship service. In the regular worship ritual of confession and absolution we are reminded of our bondage to sin and of the promise that we have been forgiven and set free through the good news of the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. the people of Israel remembered and celebrated the freedom they received through God's deliverance of them from bondage in Egypt. In the same way, when I take part in the sacrament of the Lord's Supper, I am remembering that I have been set free from the bondage of sin because Christ our Lord has been victorious. So let us live in that freedom, and go on our way rejoicing that the foe has been conquered, and we are no longer in bondage to sin.
Prayer
Gracious and forgiving God, we thank you so much for having our sins nailed to the cross with Jesus. Thank you for making it possible for us to live our lives, not under the bondage and guilt of sin, but in the assurance that we are made free because of what you did for us. Help us always to rejoice in that freedom. Amen.