"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!
"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!"
What is your favorite season? Do you enjoy the fresh new growth of spring, the warm summer sun, a cozy winter, or autumn's changing colors? Within those seasons, which holiday do you most enjoy? Thanksgiving with feasting and football? Christmas, with its decorations and gifts? We may appreciate every season and festive day, but our hymn leaves no doubt as to the best season and the most joyful festival day.
The "queen of seasons" is spring, the season of new life and growth that signals the end of the cold, dark winter. Within the bright season of spring, we celebrate "the day of splendor," "the royal feast of feasts." What is that royal feast? The hymn answers that question: "Welcome in unwearied strain Jesus' resurrection!" During the season of spring, on a day of splendor, we celebrate Easter, the festival of the resurrection of our Lord.
Jesus died on the cross and His body was laid to rest in the darkness of the tomb, but on the third day after His death, the first day of a new week, He "burst the bars of the tomb's dark portal." In the early light of a spring morning, on a day bright with splendor, Jesus' tomb was found open and empty! An angel announced the good news to the women who had come to anoint the Lord's body, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen" (Luke 24:5b-6a).
Jesus rose to life in victory over sin, death, and Satan, and His victory is our victory. By God's grace through faith in Jesus our sins are forgiven, and we have the gift of eternal life. On the Last Day we too will rise bodily from death to live forever in Jesus' presence. This is a victory and a promise so astonishing that we cannot leave its celebration to just that one springtime "royal feast of feasts." In the earliest days of the church, Christians began to worship on the first day of the week, on Sunday, instead of Saturday, the Sabbath. Sunday was called "the Lord's Day," a day each week to remember Jesus' resurrection. In every season, our Sunday worship is for us a little "feast of feasts," as we remember our Lord's triumph over death. It is another day to "welcome in unwearied strain Jesus' resurrection!"
WE PRAY: Lord Jesus, I worship You with joy in every season of the year! Amen.
This Daily Devotion was written by Dr. Carol Geisler. It is based on the hymn, "Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain," which is number 487 in the Lutheran Service Book.
Reflection Questions:
1. What is your favorite time of the year? Has this changed as you've gotten older?
2. Have you ever seen a king or queen in real life? Who was it?
3. How does worshiping with others bless you in your life outside of church?
Today's Bible Readings: Joshua 4-6 Luke 9:18-36
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