Catch the Vision! Share the Glory!

It seems most appropriate that on the day when we commemorate Cyril and Methodius, missionaries to the Slavs, that we meditate on this fine hymn by our late hymn writer, Jaroslav Vajda (1919-2008), who was of Slavic background. Vajda writes, "The hymn emphasizes the proving of the church's confession of faith by agape and acts of charity, concern for the whole person with Christ the motivator."  The tune, VISION, is by noted LC-MS composer, Carl Schalk (b. 1929).
(Regrettably, I was unable to find a link to share a recording of this fine hymn.)

1.
Blessed children, saints, elect of God,
Globe-encircling cloud of witnesses:
We have heard the Christmas angels,
We have seen the Easter sunrise,
Cried with joy when Christ began his reign.
     Catch the vision! Share the glory!
     Show the captives, tell them: Christ is here!
2.
Universal Body of the Lord,
Chosen, called, made just, and glorified:
Ours the faith, and ours the triumph,
Ours the peace the world is seeking;
Who on earth as privileged as we?
     Catch the vision! Share the glory!
     Show the captives, tell them: Christ is here!
3.
Heirs together of the grace of life,
All baptized into the death of Christ:
Born again, in love maturing,
From the altar free and cheerful,
Caring, winsome family of God.
     Catch the vision! Share the glory!
     Show the captives, tell them: Christ is here!
4.
For this time and place have we been born,
Gifted by the Spirit, trained, and sent:
With the eyes of Jesus seeing,
With the hands of Jesus helping,
With the words of Jesus bringing life,
     Catch the vision! Share the glory!
     Show the captives, tell them: Christ is here!

Christ Be My Leader

Timothy Dudley-Smith is a great, living English hymn writer (b. 1926) who has written hundreds of hymns which are found in hymnals around the world in many languages.  His text, "Christ Be My Leader" incorporates words from today's Gospel lesson, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)   Stanza 1 is Christ as Leader who is the way; stanza 2 is Christ as Teacher who is the truth; stanza 3 is Christ as Savior is the life.  It is set to the Irish tune, SLANE. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eTBAtLXbjJ8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpbURbXdndk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzXzO79Ori8  (tune SLANE on violin)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJk-yJJUQrc

1.

Christ be my Leader by night as by day;

Safe through the darkness, for He is the way.

Gladly I follow, my future His care;

Darkness is daylight when Jesus is there.

2. 

Christ be my Teacher in age as in youth,

Drifting or doubting, for He is the truth.

Grant me to trust Him; though shifting as sand,

Doubt cannot daunt me; in Jesus I stand.

3. 

Christ be my Savior in calm as in strife;

Death cannot hold me, for He is the life.

Nor darkness nor doubting nor sin and its stain

Can touch my salvation; with Jesus I reign.

Why Do We Mourn Departing Friends

Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed! Alleluia!  The pandemic fears of this COVID-19 time have cast a dark shadow across the joy and peace of the Easter season.  Sadly, Christians living in such a society have fallen in step, towing the line that death is the absolute worst thing and to be feared above all else.  Are we not celebrating our Lord Jesus Christ's victory, who by His resurrection has conquered death and the grave?  Did not St. Paul write, "'O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?' The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:55-57). I find these words of Isaac Watts (1674-1748) to be the necessary splash of cold water in my face. Let us continue to confess with conviction these closing words of the Nicene Creed: "And I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life + of the world to come.  Amen"   The following link is William Billings' (1746-1800) setting of Watts' [alt.] text, stanzas 1, 2, and 6: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw6fNABBsCc 

1.
Why do we mourn departing friends,
Or shake at death's alarms?
'Tis but the voice that Jesus sends
To call [us] to His arms.
2.
Are we not tending upward too
As fast as time can move?
Nor [should] we wish the hours more slow
To keep us from our love.
3.
Why should we tremble to convey
Their bodies to the tomb?
There the dear flesh of Jesus lay,
And left a long perfume.
4.
The graves of all His saints He bless'd,
And soften'd every bed;
Where should the dying members rest,
But with the dying Head?
5.
Thence He arose, ascending high,
And show'd our feet the way;
Up to the Lord our flesh shall fly,
At the great rising day.
6.
Then let the last loud trumpet sound,
And bid our kindred rise;
Awake, ye nations underground;
Ye saints, ascend the skies.

As Rebels, Lord, Who Foolishly Have Wandered

This text is based upon Jesus' Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) and was also inspired by an Albrecht Dürer print which depicts the lost son coming to his senses while kneeling in the midst of the filthy pigpen.  Prodigal means "extremely wasteful" and describes how the younger son quickly ran through his portion of the inheritance with wild living in a distant land.  But the prodigal's loving father was always looking and hoping for his son's return. The father's response to his son's waywardness is one of the most moving portions of Holy Scripture for me.  "As Rebels, Lord, Who Foolishly Have Wandered" is published in the "Confession and Absolution" section of Lutheran Service Book (LSB 612). It is paired with the fine tune WELCOME by Jeffrey N. Blersch (b. 1967).  Dr. Blersch and Concordia Publishing House released a setting of his tune recently entitled "Welcome" which can be heard at this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClckJjnO4Nc

1.

As rebels, Lord, who foolishly have wandered

Far from Your love—unfed, unclean, unclothed—

Dare we recall Your wealth so rashly squandered,

Dare hope to glean that bounty which we loathed?

2.

Still we return, our contrite words rehearsing,

Speech, that within Your warm embrace soon dies;

All of our guilt, our shame, our pain reversing

As tears of joy and welcome fill Your eyes.

3.

A feast of love for us You are preparing;

We who were lost, You give an honored place!

“Come, eat; come, drink, and be no more despairing—

Here taste again the treasures of My grace.”

In Paradise, You Shared Your Best

This beautiful hymn text by Lisa M. Clark (b. 1982) was written in May of 2019 and explores Gospel restoration in terms of honor and shame and tells the salvation story in this way.  She writes, "God created us and welcomed us into His presence.  But we brought shame upon Him, and we were banished from His presence.  Jesus took upon [Himself] our shame, which brought honor back to us.  It also brought us back into God's family." The tune and setting by Jonathan Kohrs (b. 1963) is a perfect match for this lovely text.  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSwOrPwscbU&list=PLTPkKKi0RCodChOjADTyv7CafW421sE3Z&index=35&t=0s

1.
In paradise, You shared Your best With us, Your children dear. Your bounty, presence, work, and rest: Secure from guilt or fear. But we brought shame upon the land And disobeyed Your clear command. Oh, we will never understand The darkness we brought near. 2. In exile, driven from Your face, We hid and worked in vain. We lost the children’s honored place And earned Your just disdain. But Jesus came to take our blame And took away our horrid shame And gave to us His holy name, That we may life regain. 3. In restoration, we are free And welcomed home anew. You smile on us abundantly And bless us through and through. But as we wait for that great day, When all dishonor melts away, Let us, Your own beloved, say: “Our Lord, we honor You!”

The Wind Blows Where It Wills

This text was written by me in 1997 as a meditation on John 3:8 and Isaiah 42:3. It was originally set to the tune RIVER FOREST, however Concordia Publishing House has just released it as an offering for Pentecost. New life has been breathed into this text by a lovely tune and piano/flute setting by Jacob Weber.  Here is the link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYEZWMsNoOs

1.

The wind blows where it wills, we hear its sound,

We cannot tell its source or where it goes;

And so it is with all those born of God,

All those upon whom God has placed His Name:

     Come, Holy Spirit,

     Breath of grace,

     O Wind divine. 

2.                              

Your mercy will not break the trampled reed

Nor will You snuff the dimly burning wick;

With tender care, Lord, bind our broken lives

And fan again our smold’ring faith to flame:

     Come, Holy Spirit,

     Breath of grace,

     O Wind divine.

All the Earth with Joy Is Sounding

This Easter hymn was written by me in 1995 during my pastorate at Grace Lutheran Church in Middletown, Connecticut and was first included in Hymnal Supplement 98. In this hymn, I sought to explore less commonly used Easter themes: Christ as the greater Jonah, the stronger strong man, and the author of salvation.  The strong tune MICHAEL was composed by Herbert Howells (1892-1983) around 1930 and was named after his son who had died at the age of 9 from meningitis in 1929.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4TUej8B2iI

1.

All the earth with joy is sounding:

    Christ has risen from the dead!

He, the greater Jonah, bounding

    From the grave, His three-day bed,

        Wins the prize:

        Death’s demise—

    Songs of triumph fill the skies.

2. 

Christ, the devil’s might unwinding,

    Leaves behind His borrowed tomb.

Stronger He, the strong man binding,

    Takes, disarms his house of doom;

        In the rout

        Casting out

    Pow’rs of darkness, sin, and doubt.

3. 

Jesus, author of salvation,

    Shared in our humanity;

Crowned with radiant exaltation,

    Now He shares His victory!

        From His face

        Shines the grace

    Meant for all our fallen race.

4. 

Praise the Lord, His reign commences,

    Reign of life and liberty—

Paschal Lamb, for our offenses

    Slain and raised to set us free!

        Evermore

        Bow before

    Christ, the Lord of Life adore!

Christ Is Risen, Christ Is Living

The hymn text is by Argentinian poet and Disciples of Christ minister Nicolás Martinez (1917-72) and is based upon 1 Corinthians 15:12-23.  Translating the hymn into English was the task of the Dutch-born English Congregationalist minister, Fred Kaan (1929-2009).  This translation's use of many one-syllable words provides the hymn with a driving, staccato vibrancy appropriate to the hymn's Easter message.  The tune, CENTRAL, was composed in 1960 by Pablo Sosa and takes its name from Central United Methodist Church in Buenos Aires.  The tune has an energetic rhythm, suggesting accompaniment better suited to a guitar than an organ.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHaGl8l6KsE    (text in original Spanish)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbJIEYynlGA   (piano with solo voice)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIRuozXbJ7A&pbjreload=10  (Christ Church, Fitchburg, Mass. [Episcopalian], English and Spanish with assorted instruments, choir)

1.  

Christ is risen, Christ is living,

    Dry your tears, be unafraid!

Death and darkness could not hold Him,

    Nor the tomb in which He lay.

Do not look among the dead for

    One who lives forevermore;

Tell the world that Christ is risen,

    Make it known He goes before.

2. 

If the Lord had never risen,

    We’d have nothing to believe;

But His promise can be trusted:

    “You will live, because I live.”

As we share the death of Adam,

    So in Christ we live again;

Death has lost its sting and terror,

    Christ the Lord has come to reign.

3. 

Death has lost its old dominion,

    Let the world rejoice and shout!

Christ, the firstborn of the living,

    Gives us life and leads us out.

Let us thank our God, who causes

    Hope to spring up from the ground.

Christ is risen, Christ is giving

    Life eternal, life profound.

1.

¡Cristo vive, fuera_el llanto,

    los lamentos y_el pesar!

Ni la muerte ni_el sepulcro

    lo_han podido sujetar.

No busquéis entre los muertos

    al que siempre_ha de vivir,

¡Cristo vive, estas nuevas

    por doquier dejad oir.

2. 

Que si Cristo no viviera

    vana fuera nuestra fe;

Mas se cumple su promesa:

    “Porque vivo, viviréis.”

Si_en Adán entró la muerte,

    por Jesús la vida_entró;

No temáis, el triunfo_es vuestro:

    ¡El Señor resucitó!

3. 

Si es verdad que de la muerte

    el pecado es aguijón,

No temáis pues Jesucristo

    nos da vida y salvación.

Gracias demos al Dios Padre

    que nos da seguridad,

Que quien cree en Jesucristo

    vive por la eternidad.

If Christ Had Not Been Raised From Death

Christopher Idle (b. 1938) wrote this text in May of 1984 while serving as minister at Limehouse, East London.  The text was conceived and written as a response to liberal voices of the late 20th century that had questioned the central doctrine of the Christian faith: Christ's bodily resurrection from the dead.  This is no new heresy.  St. Paul had addressed this same issue nearly 2,000 years earlier in 1 Corinthians 15, the great resurrection chapter penned by the apostle under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The tune UNION CITY was composed by Phillip Magness (b. 1963) who had attended his grandmother's funeral in Union City, Tennessee and the funeral sermon was on the passage of Scripture on which this hymn is based.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsKo-AoN_9I 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3DcM-GhUIY

1.

If Christ had not been raised from death

    Our faith would be in vain,

Our preaching but a waste of breath,

    Our sin and guilt remain.

But now the Lord is ris’n indeed;

    He rules in earth and heav’n:

His gospel meets a world of need—

    In Christ we are forgiv’n.

2. 

If Christ still lay within the tomb

    Then death would be the end,

And we should face our final doom

    With neither guide nor friend.

But now the Savior is raised up,

    So when a Christian dies

We mourn, yet look to God in hope—

    In Christ the saints arise!

3. 

If Christ had not been truly raised,

    His Church would live a lie;

His name should nevermore be praised,

    His words deserve to die.

But now our great Redeemer lives;

    Through this we are restored:

His Word endures, His Church revives

    In Christ, our risen Lord.

This Joyful Eastertide

This hymn was written by George Ratcliffe Woodford (1848-1934). The scriptural basis for the text is 1 Corinthians 15, St. Paul's great resurrection chapter.  In it, the apostle refutes any claims that Christ did not rise bodily from the dead. Herein Christians receive comfort, hope, and the assurance of their own bodily resurrection from the dead on the Last Day.  (The original order of the stanzas is 1, 3, 2 [reflected in the King's College Cambridge and Quarantine Choir links below] was altered, most likely to place the sequence of events in chronological order: the death of the believer, the body's rest in the grave, and then the waking of the dead at the Last Day.) The tune VRUECHTEN (Dutch for "fruits") is from Davids Psalmen, Amsterdam, 1684.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tipsbcfuB4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyNYjD91TyI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDjkPwHVJoc   (organ only)

1.

This joyful Eastertide

    Away with sin and sorrow!

My love, the Crucified,

    Has sprung to life this morrow:

Had Christ, who once was slain,

    Not burst His three-day prison,

Our faith had been in vain:

    But now has Christ arisen, arisen, arisen;

    But now has Christ arisen!

2.

Death’s flood has lost its chill

    Since Jesus crossed the river;

Lover of souls, from ill

    My passing soul deliver:

Had Christ, who once was slain,

    Not burst His three-day prison,

Our faith had been in vain:

    But now has Christ arisen, arisen, arisen;

    But now has Christ arisen!

3. 

My flesh in hope shall rest

    And for a season slumber

Till trump from east to west

    Shall wake the dead in number:

Had Christ, who once was slain,

    Not burst His three-day prison,

Our faith had been in vain:

    But now has Christ arisen, arisen, arisen;

    But now has Christ arisen!

Christ Has Arisen, Alleluia

An Easter hymn by Bernard Kyamanywa (b. 1938), translated by Howard S. Olsen (1922-2010) has become a favorite in our Lutheran Service Book hymnal (LSB 466).  The tune MFURAHINI HALELUYA is from Tanzania in Africa.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmWgMeD5cmg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EE2zi1JqnSw

1.

Christ has arisen, alleluia.

Rejoice and praise Him, alleluia.

For our Redeemer burst from the tomb,

Even from death, dispelling its gloom.

Let us sing praise to Him with endless joy;

Death’s fearful sting He has come to destroy.

    Our sin forgiving, alleluia!

    Jesus is living, alleluia!

2. 

For three long days the grave did its worst

Until its strength by God was dispersed.

He who gives life did death undergo;

And in its conquest His might did show.

Let us sing praise to Him with endless joy;

Death’s fearful sting He has come to destroy.

    Our sin forgiving, alleluia!

    Jesus is living, alleluia!

3. 

The angel said to them, “Do not fear!

You look for Jesus who is not here.

See for yourselves the tomb is all bare;

Only the grave cloths are lying there.”

Let us sing praise to Him with endless joy;

Death’s fearful sting He has come to destroy.

    Our sin forgiving, alleluia!

    Jesus is living, alleluia!

4. 

“Go spread the news: He’s not in the grave;

He has arisen this world to save.

Jesus’ redeeming labors are done;

Even the battle with sin is won.”

Let us sing praise to Him with endless joy;

Death’s fearful sting He has come to destroy.

    Our sin forgiving, alleluia!

    Jesus is living, alleluia!

5. 

Christ has arisen; He sets us free;

Alleluia, to Him praises be.

Jesus is living! Let us all sing;

He reigns triumphant, heavenly king.

Let us sing praise to Him with endless joy;

Death’s fearful sting He has come to destroy.

    Our sin forgiving, alleluia!

    Jesus is living, alleluia!

Alleluia! Jesus Is Risen

An Easter text by Herbert F. Brokering (1926-2009) set to the tune EARTH AND ALL STARS by David N. Johnson (1922-87). As the Lutheran supplement With One Voice was being prepared in 1995, its editors suggested to Herbert that he write an Easter hymn for Johnson's tune EARTH AND ALL STARS that would draw together thoughts and themes from throughout the Easter season.  The result is this hymn that has come to hold a special place for many. (Stanza 2 recalls the account of the disciples on the road to Emmaus [Luke 24:13-49], incorporating one of the hallmark's of Brokering's poetry: the word "surprise.")
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysDmJ035FMo  (omits stanza 3)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cx7h0ShOJIE

1. 

Alleluia!

    Jesus is risen!

Trumpets resounding in glorious light!

    Splendor, the Lamb,

    Heaven forever!

Oh, what a miracle God has in sight!

Jesus is risen and we shall arise:

Give God the glory! Alleluia!

2. 

Walking the way,

    Christ in the center

Telling the story to open our eyes;

     Breaking our bread,

    Giving us glory:

Jesus our blessing, our constant surprise.

Jesus is risen and we shall arise:

Give God the glory! Alleluia!

3. 

Jesus the vine,

    We are the branches;

Life in the Spirit the fruit of the tree;

    Heaven to earth,

    Christ to the people,

Gift of the future now flowing to me.

Jesus is risen and we shall arise:

Give God the glory! Alleluia!

4. 

Weeping, be gone;

     Sorrow, be silent:

Death put asunder, and Easter is bright.

    Cherubim sing:

    “O grave, be open!”

Clothe us in wonder, adorn us in light.

Jesus is risen and we shall arise:

Give God the glory! Alleluia!

5. 

City of God,

     Easter forever,

Golden Jerusalem, Jesus the Lamb,

    River of life,

    Saints and archangels,

Sing with creation to God the I AM!

Jesus is risen and we shall arise:

Give God the glory! Alleluia!

Christ Jesus Lay in Death's Strong Bands

Martin Luther's great Easter text speaks of the triumph of Christ's resurrection victory (stanza 1). It points to our bondage to sin and death in the second stanza, and reviews the saving work of Christ in His fight against death, in stanzas 3 and 4.  Using strong picture language, the hymn  also uses Passover imagery in the final three stanzas to express joy of God's people saved by all that Christ has done!  CHRIST LAG IN TODESBANDEN (Wittenberg, 1524) is the strong tune that successfully carries the weight of the text and helps express the joyful victory of Easter.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AB-6jr6VaHk  (if you look closely, you can see Pastor Starke and Jon Enge and the Amelith youth, middle left, second and third pews!)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXMKrjNX2W4 (handbells)

1.

Christ Jesus lay in death’s strong bands

    For our offenses given;

But now at God’s right hand He stands

    And brings us life from heaven.

Therefore let us joyful be

And sing to God right thankfully

    Loud songs of alleluia!

       Alleluia!

2. 

No son of man could conquer death,

    Such ruin sin had wrought us.

No innocence was found on earth,

    And therefore death had brought us

Into bondage from of old

And ever grew more strong and bold

    And held us as its captive.

       Alleluia!

3. 

Christ Jesus, God’s own Son, came down,

    His people to deliver;

Destroying sin, He took the crown

    From Death’s pale brow forever:

Stripped of pow’r, no more he reigns;

An empty form alone remains;

    His sting is lost forever.

       Alleluia!

4. 

It was a strange and dreadful strife

    When life and death contended;

The victory remained with life,

    The reign of death was ended.

Holy Scripture plainly saith

That death is swallowed up by death,

    Its sting is lost forever.

       Alleluia!

5. 

Here the true Paschal Lamb we see,

    Whom God so freely gave us;

He died on the accursèd tree—

    So strong His love—to save us.

See, His blood now marks our door;

Faith points to it; death passes o’er,

    And Satan cannot harm us.

       Alleluia!

6. 

So let us keep the festival

    To which the Lord invites us;

Christ is Himself the joy of all,

    The sun that warms and light us.

Now His grace to us imparts

Eternal sunshine to our hearts;

    The night of sin is ended.

       Alleluia!

7. 

Then let us feast this Easter Day

    On Christ, the bread of heaven;

The Word of grace has purged away

    The old and evil leaven.

Christ alone our souls will feed;

He is our meat and drink indeed;

    Faith lives upon no other!

       Alleluia!

The Day of Resurrection

Another great, ancient Easter text by John of Damascus (696-754)!  Just think how long Christians have been singing this fine hymn!  Hymns connect us to Christians across the ages of time and remind us that we are part of one indivisible Church and Body of Christ.  The tune LANCASHIRE was composed by Henry T. Smart (1813-79).  Smart was organist of Blackburn parish in the county of Lancashire (northwest England) from 1831-1836.  The tune first appeared in Psalms and Hymns for Divine Worship (London, 1866).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JpFcVvH9Lw  (minus the doxological stanza)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Czh8YTVfyCU       "

1.

The day of resurrection!

    Earth, tell it out abroad,

The passover of gladness,

    The passover of God.

From death to life eternal,

    From sin’s dominion free,

Our Christ has brought us over

    With hymns of victory.

2. 

Let hearts be purged of evil

    That we may see aright

The Lord in rays eternal

    Of resurrection light

And, list’ning to His accents,

    May hear, so calm and plain,

His own “All hail!” and, hearing,

    May raise the victor strain.

3.

Now let the heav’ns be joyful,

    Let earth its song begin,

Let all the world keep triumph

    And all that is therein.

Let all things, seen and unseen,

    Their notes of gladness blend;

For Christ the Lord has risen,

    Our joy that has no end!

4. 

All praise to God the Father,

    All praise to God the Son,

All praise to God the Spirit,

    Eternal Three in One!

Let all the ransomed number

    Fall down before the throne

And honor, pow’r, and glory

    Ascribe to God alone!

Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain

This hymn, written by John of Damascus (c. 675-749), has been sung in the Church since the middle of the 8th century!  John links Israel's deliverance through the Red Sea (Ex. 15:1-18) with the resurrection of Jesus.  The text progresses until the Church of all time joins in praising God for her deliverance by Jesus' death and resurrection.  The tune, GAUDEAMUS PARITER is 16th-century Bohemian.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjjkXJ37So4  (Higher Things youth gathering)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaFyaPy6NLY (stanzas 1, 3, 5)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbQ_5pzRllM  (stanzas 1-4)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVTjZCDO_A8 (organ setting)

1.

Come, you faithful, raise the strain

    Of triumphant gladness!

God has brought His Israel

    Into joy from sadness,

Loosed from Pharaoh’s bitter yoke

    Jacob’s sons and daughters,

Led them with unmoistened foot

    Through the Red Sea waters.

2. 

’Tis the spring of souls today:

    Christ has burst His prison

And from three days’ sleep in death

    As a sun has risen;

All the winter of our sins,

    Long and dark, is flying

From His light, to whom is giv’n

    Laud and praise undying.

3. 

Now the queen of seasons, bright

    With the day of splendor,

With the royal feast of feasts

    Comes its joy to render;

Comes to gladden faithful hearts

    Which with true affection

Welcome in unwearied strain

    Jesus’ resurrection!

4. 

For today among His own

    Christ appeared, bestowing

His deep peace, which evermore

    Passes human knowing.

Neither could the gates of death

    Nor the tomb’s dark portal

Nor the watchers nor the seal

    Hold Him as a mortal.

5. 

Alleluia! Now we cry

    To our King immortal,

Who, triumphant, burst the bars

    Of the tomb’s dark portal.

Come, you faithful, raise the strain

    Of triumphant gladness!

God has brought His Israel

    Into joy from sadness!