My parents used to sometimes bring along kids who were learning to play musical instruments to various nursing homes. And this was quite a victory for the parents of those kids, particularly those who decided that the violin or French horn were great “Beginner Instruments” for their begrudgingly compliant children. Mom and Dad were able to partially regain their hearing and sanity, and Benny and Jasmine could go practice in front of a (barely) live audience who either couldn’t hear the cringeworthy screeching, wouldn’t remember the unrecognizable tunes, or both! All that mattered was there were cute kids that had come to visit!

And sometimes on this side of Heaven, the musical score is a soundtrack of sorrow. Strident sin-stained timbres of trials and the dissonance of disappointments mar the melody. We wish we could tune out the grating and harsh chords of disillusionment and betrayal…but they remain indelibly etched in our memories. All the while, drumbeats of Death build in volume, which can crescendo to a fever pitch of agonizing anxiety.

But then we look to the Cross. Doubt diminuendos as an immortal ensemble erupts in celestial symphony. A heavenly harmony swallows up the dissonant darkness. The tomb is empty. Our hearts are full. And the soundtrack of sorrow fades into eternal exultation.

“O Death, where is your victory?

O Death, where is your sting?”

The only thing that matters is the Beautiful One is risen. And He lives forevermore. Death has been defeated. And even if your current playlist is a bit somber or you feel a little out-of-tune, just remember we get to join the everlasting choir

I hope you had a blessed Easter