April 24, 2011

Holy Week: He Has Risen!


Today I attended the Vespers and Benediction services at the Cathedral of the Madeleine. The music was beautiful; it was a wonderful way to celebrate this glorious day of resurrection. One of the songs they sang, which words were particularly powerful, was about the Savior as the great Passover Lamb:

The Lamb’s high banquet called to share,
Arrayed in garments white and fair,
The Red Sea past, we fain would sing
To Jesus our triumphant King.

Protected in the Paschal night
From the destroying angel’s might,
In triumph went the ransomed free
From Pharaoh’s cruel tyranny.

Now Christ our Passover is slain,
The Lamb of God without a stain;
His flesh, the true unleavened Bread,
Is freely offered in our stead.

O all sufficient Sacrifice,
Beneath Thee hell defeated lies;
Thy captive people are set free,
And crowns of life restored by Thee.

All praise be Thine, O risen Lord,
From death to endless life restored;
All praise to God the Father be
And Holy Ghost eternally. Amen.

Truly, as the children of Israel were freed from Pharaoh's hand by the blood of the lamb, we likewise are freed from Satan's grasp by the blood of the Lamb of God. Glory be to the Father, who gave His only begotten Son, that we might live eternally with Him again. How grateful I am for this day of remembrance; this day of resurrection; this day of joy; this day of rejoicing. The sadness and darkness of Black Saturday is past, Resurrection Sunday has come!

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