Sunday, May 25, 2014

Devotion

Alleluia! Sing to Jesus;
his the scepter, his the throne;
Alleluia! his the triumph,
his the victory alone.
Hark! The songs of peaceful Zion
thunder like a mighty flood:
"Jesus out of ev'ry nation
has redeemed us by his blood."

Alleluia! Not as orphans
are we left in sorrow now;
Alleluia! he is near us;
faith believes, nor questions how.
Though the cloud from sight received him
when the forty days were o'er,
shall our hearts forget his promise:
"I am with you evermore"?

Alleluia! Bread of heaven,
here on earth our food, our stay;
Alleluia! here the sinful
flee to you from day to day.
Intercessor, friend of sinners,
earth's redeemer, hear our plea
where the songs of all the sinless
sweep across the crystal sea.

Alleluia! King eternal,
Lord omnipotent we own;
Alleluia! born of Mary,
earth your footstool, heav'n your throne.
As within the veil you entered,
robed in flesh, our great high priest,
here on earth both priest and victim
in the eucharistic feast.

Alleluia! Sing to Jesus;
his the scepter, his the throne;
Alleluia! his the triumph,
his the victory alone.
Hark! The songs of peaceful Zion
thunder like a mighty flood:
"Jesus out of ev'ry nation
has redeemed us by his blood."

Often we have difficulty grasping the breadth of Christ's resurrection. Our words and images often seem just too inadequate. Like the early disciples we worship the risen Jesus, but doubt still clouds our joys. If this awesome event turned the first century world upside down, why can't we capture the wonder of Jesus' resurrection for our day?

The words of poets and the music of the masters help us to see the vast arena where resurrection life thrives. We note in this familiar hymn the litany of God's promises: "Jesus ... has redeemed us by his blood." "Not as orphans ... Alleluia! He is near us." "King eternal, Lord omnipotent." "His the triumph. His the victory alone."

The Good News of Christ's resurrection provides great hope for all God's children. But there is more. The resurrection is cosmic, transcending our finite world. The power of death and the reign of evil have been destroyed. Alleluia! We have reason to sing to Jesus!