“Christ is risen! Shout Hosanna! Celebrate this day of days.
Christ is risen! Hush in wonder; all creation is amazed.
In the desert all surrounding, see, a spreading tree has grown.
Healing leaves of grace abounding bring a taste of love unknown.
Christ is risen! Raise your spirits from the caverns of despair.
Walk with gladness in the morning. See what love can do and dare.
Drink the wine of resurrection, not a servant, but a friend;
Jesus is our strong companion. Joy and peace shall never end.
Christ is risen! Earth and heaven nevermore shall be the same.
Break the bread of new creation where the world is still in pain.
Tell its grim, demonic chorus: 'Christ is risen! Get you gone!'
God the First and Last is with us. Sing Hosanna everyone!”
[–Brian Wren, from The United Methodist Hymnal, #307]
What appropriate words! After all, isn't that the message of Easter?... that suffering and pain and death and evil are never the last word? All the sacrifices of Lent, and all of the tragedies and struggles of life merely lead us to the new life of Easter, just as Christ's own sacrifice and suffering led him to the victory of the Resurrection.
So remember, no matter what you're facing today, Easter has come to tell us that through faith in Jesus, God's victory can be ours, as well! So along with the hymn-writer, this Sunday our hearts all join to sing: “Christ is risen! Shout Hosanna! Celebrate this day of days!”
All of these things should help enable us to focus more on the reason for the day: Jesus Is Risen! Alleluia! Alleluia! Remember, God loves you and I do, too!
