What song gives you comfort and strength?
The Easter Candle at St Chrysostoms
What song echoes in your mind giving joy or peace?
I asked four different people what their answer to this would be.
Four very different answers;
Bring me Sunshine sung by Morecambe and Wise,
Kids in America by Kim Wylde,
Sleepless Sailor by Kate Rusby and
Come home, the kettle’s on by The Feeling.
What is the song of your heart?
This Easter for the first time for many years I was delighted to sing the Exsultet, the ‘Easter Praises,’ at the Easter Vigil Mass. As we gathered together around the Easter Candle, I recalled the history and theology of this great song of praise.
The Exsultet echoes through the church of yesterday, today and the future. It is the song at the heart of God’s Church, calling forth joy, comfort and strength, and inviting angels, the world, the church to sing out.
Rejoice, heavenly powers… Rejoice, O Earth… Rejoice, O Mother Church… Jesus Christ is risen! Darkness vanishes for ever.
And for the people in the church?
Well, St Augustine inspires us with his suggestion for a song for our hearts. “We are an Easter people and A L L E L U I A is our song” – So don’t forget to add Alleluia to the song of your heart this Easter.
HAPPY EASTER!
Fr Ian
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