I'm more than a bit late in blogging this, but it has been a busy, busy time. Between Thursday, March 24 and Sunday, March 27, I was involved in 5 worship services (including one in the German language) and preached at four of them (although not the German one.) Monday was a day off for me, but I was struck with insomnia on Easter Sunday night which did not help at all. My wife has been incredibly kind, cooking some favourite meals for me, all while suffering some eating problems herself. My daughter took us out for sushi for lunch yesterday and it was delightful!
In any event, I'm adding one of my favourite Easter hymns as a celebration. The poetry is quite old, dating from the 8th Century of the Christian era. It says all I'd wish to say for the festival.
Come, ye faithful, raise the strain of triumphant gladness;
God hath brought forth 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.
God hath brought forth 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.
’Tis the spring of souls today; Christ has burst His prison,
And from three days’ sleep in death as a sun hath risen;
All the winter of our sins, long and dark, is flying
From His light, to Whom we give laud and praise undying.
And from three days’ sleep in death as a sun hath risen;
All the winter of our sins, long and dark, is flying
From His light, to Whom we give laud and praise undying.
Now the queen of seasons, bright with the day of splendor,
With the royal feast of feasts, comes its joy to render;
Comes to glad Jerusalem, who with true affection
Welcomes in unwearied strains Jesus’ resurrection.
With the royal feast of feasts, comes its joy to render;
Comes to glad Jerusalem, who with true affection
Welcomes in unwearied strains Jesus’ resurrection.
Neither might the gates of death, nor the tomb’s dark portal,
Nor the watchers, nor the seal hold Thee as a mortal;
But today amidst the twelve Thou didst stand, bestowing
That Thy peace which evermore passeth human knowing.
Nor the watchers, nor the seal hold Thee as a mortal;
But today amidst the twelve Thou didst stand, bestowing
That Thy peace which evermore passeth human knowing.
“Alleluia!” now we cry to our King immortal,
Who, triumphant, burst the bars of the tomb’s dark portal;
“Alleluia!” with the Son, God the Father praising,
“Alleluia!” yet again to the Spirit raising.
Who, triumphant, burst the bars of the tomb’s dark portal;
“Alleluia!” with the Son, God the Father praising,
“Alleluia!” yet again to the Spirit raising.
Words: John of Damascus (675-749)
translated from Greek to English by John M. Neale, 1859.
Music: St. Kevin, Arthur S. Sullivan, 1872
Happy Easter to you and yours.
ReplyDeleteA excellent choice of hymn.
Alan