The Last Sunday of Easter and the Last of my God's Pauses

"Christ the Lord Is Risen Today; Alleluia!" (ELW 369)

1 Christ the Lord is ris'n today; Alleluia!
Christians, hasten on your way; Alleluia!
offer praise with love replete, Alleluia!
at the paschal victim's feet. Alleluia!

2 For the sheep the Lamb has bled, Alleluia!
sinless in the sinner's stead. Alleluia!
Christ the Lord is ris'n on high; Alleluia!
now he lives, no more to die. Alleluia!

3 Christ, the victim undefiled, Alleluia!
God and sinners reconciled, Alleluia!
when contending death and life, Alleluia!
met in strange and awesome strife. Alleluia!

4 Christians, on this holy day, Alleluia!
all your grateful homage pay; Alleluia!
Christ the Lord is ris'n on high; Alleluia!
now he lives, no more to die. Alleluia!

Text: attr. Wipo of Burgundy, d. c. 1050; tr. Jane E. Leeson, 1807-1882, alt.

Listen with the ears of your mind as you read the words of this hymn. What can you hear? I hear trumpets and a booming chorus of people. What do you smell? My nose is filled with the smell of Easter lilies and other fresh flowers. What do you see when you close your eyes? I visualize a brightly lit sanctuary full of people. This song reminds me so much of my experience on Easter morning. I can't help but sing the words as I read the text. This song will forever be ingrained in my being. We all have songs that do this to us--bring us back to a certain time and place.

As Christians, Easter brings us back time and time again to be bathed in Christ's grace. What if the tunes of our lives reflected this amazing gift? Will Easter continue to just be a day, or will it become the heartbeat of our lives? 

Alleluia Lord, may we live our lives with the beat of Easter in our hearts, and may our lives be a song of gospel to all we meet. Amen.