This Movie Has You in It

“Rise from the grave now, O Lord,

the author of life and creation.

Treading the pathway of death,

new life you give to us all:

Hail thee, festival day!

blest day to be hallowed forever,

day when our Lord was raised,

breaking the kingdom of death.”

— verse 2 of Hail Thee, Festival Day

Let this be like a movie trailer.

Let the images from this verse of the next song in the Resurrection section of The United Methodist Hymnal run through you like previews of coming attractions.

Picture Christ treading the pathway of death.  It’s a path with deep grooves.

Whoa, did you hear that?!  It’s no clever effect in the background, it’s Christ breaking the kingdom of death.

And when the credits are flashed onscreen, we see that the lead role is played by the producer and director, the author of life and creation.

Best of all, it’s not just popcorn that’s being shared here: new life you give to us all.

There’s room for you and me to be extras in this film!