1. Through the night of doubt and sorrow,
onward goes the pilgrim band,
singing songs of expectation,
marching to the promised land.
Clear before us through the darkness
gleams and burns the guiding light;
pilgrim clasps the hand of pilgrim
stepping fearless through the night.
2. One the light of God's own presence
on the ransomed people shed,
chasing far the gloom and terror,
bright'ning all the path we tread.
One the object of our journey,
one the faith which never tires,
one the earnest looking forward,
one the hope our God inspires.
3. One the strain that lips of thousands
lift as from the heart of one;
one the conflict, one the peril,
one the march in God begun.
One the gladness of rejoicing
on the far eternal shore,
where the one almighty Father
reigns in love forevermore.
4. Onward, therefore, sisters, brothers;
onward, with the cross our aid.
Bear its shame, and fight its battle
till we rest beneath its shade.
Soon shall come the great awak'ning;
soon the rending of the tomb!
Then the scatt'ring of all shadows,
and the end of toil and gloom.
***
What, finally, is the point of the Passion? The Gospel of Mark is less interested in doctrinal clarity than it is in pointing to the way of love and new life. As the hymn
implies, we sleep but will be awakened. The grave stands closed as we end the reading for this Sunday of the Passion. But the story is not at an end. We will dare
to look ahead and remember again the rending of the tomb. We must get to Easter, or Jesus' death was simply inspiring, his fidelity to a commitment to love merely
honorable. We need salvation. Today, as we begin the holiest of weeks, we begin in the shadows, but they will be scattered. We toil in gloom, but soon the glory of a new day, a new way, a new hope will be ours. We see
only a foreshadowing today. The curtain in the temple is torn in two. The holiest of holies opens, even as Jesus' death is sealed.
God of new life, are you set loose from the Holy of Holies to walk among us? Is your mercy and justice present, not distant and beyond us? Open our eyes to see you. Open
our hearts to your way. Amen.
Catherine Malotky '86
Grant and Project Manager for the Center for Stewardship Leaders, Luther Seminary
The Luther Seminary
2481 Como Avenue
Saint Paul, Minnespta 55108, United States
***
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