Love’s Redeeming Work
April 20, 2014
READ:
Love’s redeeming work is done,
fought the fight, the battle won.
death in vain forbids him rise;
Christ has opened paradise.
Charles Wesley
REFLECT:
Ever since Charles Wesley became a contender for the Golden Halo in Lent Madness, I’ve been thinking about his splendrous Easter hymns. Our Easter would be a bit less glorious without “Christ the Lord is risen today!” I also love “Love’s redeeming work is done” as it’s printed in the Episcopal Church’s Hymnal 1982.
Amidst the familiar music, the beloved traditions, and the sheer “special effects” of the Easter story itself, it would not be hard to lose track of what we’re actually celebrating today. We’re certainly not going through the motions so we can re-enact favorite seasonal traditions, as much as we might love them. We’re not even celebrating the fact of the miracle of the empty tomb itself — because the “what” pales in importance compared with the “why” of Easter.
The point of Easter is beautifully encapsulated in Wesley’s hymn. “Love’s redeeming work is done.” In Easter, we see proof of God’s love of us and we behold signs of our redemption. We are redeemed from our captivity to sin and from our slavery to the tyranny of death. In other words, we are made truly free: free to serve God as people made in God’s image. We can be free of fear.
The paradise that Christ has opened for us is not just the possibility of getting our ticket into heaven punched. Christ’s paradise, his new creation, begins right now, in this life. We share in the eternal life of Jesus Christ, and we don’t have to wait.
Thanks be to God, we have fifty days to delight in the wonder, the power, and the mystery of Easter. Let us rejoice that God has set us free through Christ’s victory.
Alleluia! Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!
RESPOND:
Spend a few minutes that think about what true freedom means for you. What has Easter redeemed for you? If you’re feeling really brave, perhaps share the Good News of that redemption with someone else.
Katrina Soto
Great reflection. I have always been less concerned with the idea of afterlife and more so with now life. If all that happens is that Christ does this amazing parlor trick, the resurrection means nothing. We are the resurrected Christ – his hands and face in this world, not the world to come. Alleluia, Christ is risen!
Glenis Elliott
Each year I tell myself that when “Jesus Christ Is Risen Toady” is sung, I will not cry. Well, I didn’t make it without the tears today any more than I have in the past!!!! I realize just how much those words mean to me personally. Seven years ago my daughter was in the hospital on Easter with a recurring case of MERSA infection. The September before we almost lost her to this. She spent 40 days in ICU and I have always equated that to the 40 days of Lent, followed of course by the glorious resurrection of Jesus. I am happy to say that she is doing very well now, although she had a couple of other bouts with the MERSA and some other set backs in the past couple of years. I know that God has something special in mind for her and I thank him everyday for her miracle.
Helen Spence
The text you used to begin this reflection was the one I sang on the Easter morning right after my father told me he was terminally ill. I had the same anthem sung at his funeral. It is one of my all time favorites, for the very reason you mentioned, although I think my favorite line is “Death in vain, forbids Him rise. Christ has opened paradise!” Thank you.
G.Woodward
I know it may seem odd but this Lent season, I have come to grips with the fact that I am truley a sinner. No matter how much I attend church or try to do good for my fellow man, I find the fault and I point it out. Usually only to my best friend. It has dawned on me that this is one of the worst sins. It spreads like a poison, infecting anyone in my path. On palm sunday Pope Francis asked, “who am I ? “. Who am I ? I really had to think about it. I’m not any of the Mary’s, Mabey Paul. Some days Vironica who wiped Christ’s face of the blood and spit. I ask my self, who do I want to be ? That is what this Easter has given me.
Bob
Redemption came through Holy Week with a paralysed girl being able to walk. Not miraculous, but the angelic efforts of a neurosurgeon, anaesthetists, nurses, porters, radiologists and Chaplains.
My redemption was in having not diagnosed the condition earlier. My colleagues redeemed me. I thank them.
Karen I Ford
Easter has always been my favorite season. One year at the Cathedral, The Altar Guild stripped the Altar with the grace of a ballet, everyone dressed completely in black. As we went through the motions, the significance really hit me as we removed everything thing and the lights were extinguished. Without God, there is no Hope. Without God, there is nothing!
The first line of the third verse, “Soar we now where Christ has led,…” is also significant — Hope speaks to me in this line.
I am looking forward to the coming 50 Days of Fabulous!!! Lent Madness was so interesting and I am sure the next 50 days will also be exciting!!