At Long Last…..Alleluia!

“And I heard as it were the voices of a great multitude………Saying Alleluia for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.” ~ Revelation 19:8

At long last, we get to sing “Alleluia.” And I am not necessarily referring to the long forty days of Lent. I am referring to that seeming eternity between Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday morning.

It’s bad enough having to refrain from using the word “alleluia” throughout lent and focusing on sacrifice, but it is harder still to hear the words “Our Lord is dead.” There are many free-church traditions that simply will not say it. I understand. It’s tough. It tastes like blasphemy on its way out of the mouth. It sounds like blasphemy when it reaches the ears. But it was true for three days. And we feel the pain and emptiness of that truth when we say it and hear it.

But then comes Sunday and we are refreshed, renewed, and re-energized with one simple word: “Alleluia!” The word is so powerful we wrap it in the wonderful announcement: “He is risen! He is risen indeed!” What a prelude to the one word that fits all Christian traditions in all languages on earth and in heaven: “Alleluia!”

Sing it with your heart. Sing it with tears of joy. Sing it in the face of death. Sing its light into darkness. Sing “Alleluia!”.

Prior to coming to Pinnacle, Marilyn and I served Metropolitan United Church in London, Ontario. One Easter the children were given little bells as they entered the sanctuary on Easter Sunday morning. Their assignment was to listen for the word “Alleluia”. Every time they heard it they were to ring their bells. It was an incredible experience.

Sing and live your alleluia. Ring the bells of heaven!