Christ is Risen, Christ is Risen indeed, Alleluia!
Are any of you faithful; do you love
God? Well then, rejoice in this day’s glorious and shining triumph.
Are any of you wise works in God’s
Kingdom? Then enter into the joy of the Lord with abundant gladness!
Has the Lenten fast wearied you, has
your spiritual journey been difficult? Well, now is the reward!
If you worked from well before sun
up, this here is your overtime pay!
If you arrived on time, here is
the Thanksgiving Feast.
If you made it here at noon—that’s
alright, there is no harm in that.
If you were delayed and only arrived around
three, lean in close with us, because you’re not in trouble.
If you arrived at dusk when all the
work was already done, don’t be afraid—everything is going to be alright!
You see, the Master welcomes the last,
just as he welcomes the first.
He gives rest to the one who comes late,
and the one who labored long—he makes them whole.
He receives the work
and welcomes the intention. Thought, word, and deed
—he praises ‘em all!
So, all of you, come on in to the Joy
of the Lord!
First and last, rich and poor, amped
and exhausted—rejoice together!
You who kept the fast and you who didn’t—be
glad this day!
Look at the table, it is bent low
with bounty. Let no one go hungry! The calf is fated, the meal ready. Enjoy the
feast of faith!
This splendor of goodness, this
treasure—it is all an unmerited gift!
May no one wail at their poverty, for
the universal kingdom has been revealed!
Please, no one weep over your sins or
your guilt, for forgiveness has dawned from the tomb!
Let no one fear death or the grave,
for the death of our savior has set us free!
Death gulped him down, and choked on the
Christ.
Jesus was marched captive down into Hades,
and Hades became the prisoner.
The Grave took a body, but encountered God.
The Grave received earth, but met
heaven.
Death seized what it saw, but fell
for what it couldn’t see.
As the prophet Isaiah cried out: “Hades
was embittered when it encountered Him below.”
-It was embittered, for it was abolished.
-It was embittered, for it was imprisoned.
-It was embittered, for it was overmatched, overthrown, overawed,
overwhelmed, overcome!
O death, where is thy sting?
O hades, where is thy victory?
Christ is risen, and you are cast down!
Christ is risen, and the demons fall!
Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice.
Christ is risen, and life flourishes!
Christ is risen, and there is none dead in the tombs!
For Christ, being risen from the dead, is become the
first-fruits of them that have fallen asleep. To Him be glory and dominion unto
the ages of ages. Christ is risen. (Christ is risen indeed.
Alleluia.)
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