O Sons and Daughters, Let Us Sing, vv. 1-4, ELW 386
Devotion
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
O sons and daughters, let us sing
with heav'nly hosts to Christ our king:
today the grave has lost its sting!
Alleluia!
That Easter morn, at break of day,
the faithful women went their way
to seek the tomb where Jesus lay.
Alleluia!
An angel clad in white they see,
who sits and speaks unto the three,
"Your Lord will go to Galilee."
Alleluia!
That night the apostles met in fear;
among them came their master dear,
and said, "My peace be with you here."
Alleluia!
In the words of this hymn we sing confidently "Today the grave has lost its sting!" How many times I have stood with a family at a graveside and it seemed indeed to sting. Everything—the tears, the hand over sorrowing hand, the folks sitting in the velvet-covered seats under the awning—would say that the sting is hardly gone. Only in the light of Easter can we begin to say that. As the ever-stronger spring sunlight melts the snow until it only remains in the darkest corners, the light of the resurrection is driving back the sting of death. Because Jesus lives, we will live also, along with all of those who have gone before us. As salve relieves a stinging pain, this hope comes to salves all of our grieving.
Prayer
Lord of life, comfort those who mourn today. Drive back the sting of death and shine the hope of the resurrection into all our lives. Amen.