Praying in the Morning: Luther’s Morning Prayer

Easter Sunrise/Vigil

April 16, 2017

Zion Lutheran Church + Nampa, ID

“This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” So writes the Psalmist in Psalm 118, just a few verses before This is the day when the cornerstone of salvation has been laid because Christ is risen! We awake to this new day in the joy of the resurrection. And so Luther echoes this joy and gladness in his morning prayer. God has kept us through the night. We rise in the morning to greet the risen Savior.  As we meet the rising sun, so we meet the risen Son of God. The darkness of Good Friday gives way the light of Easter. The darkness of death gives way to the Light and the Life of the World.

Death has no power over you, for Christ has overcome death and turned it into but a sweet sleep and made it your departure to your Father in heaven.  Do not fear the grave, for though you may sleep there for a while, you will rise as a child of God. Consider it only a bed in which you sleep, trusting in the Lord to keep you there from all harm and danger until the Day of Resurrection of all flesh.

This is why Luther encourages us to begin each day to make the sign of the cross combined with the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit – the holy name of God given to us at our baptism.  It is the name of the living God, the victorious God. He has kept us through another night, resting in the arms of the risen Christ.  And we pray that God would guide us this coming day from sin and every evil. What’s more, that He guide all our doings and life to please Him. Jesus’ resurrection not only frees you from your sin and death, but it enables you to live a new life, a God pleasing life. Put away the deeds of darkness. Quit your sin. Repent of your evil thoughts, words, and deeds. Come out of the tomb. Your life is to be daily celebration of the Resurrection of Christ.

Then go joyfully to your work.  Large stones may seem to block our way, stones of our making or those rolled in the way by others.  We don’t always know how we’re going to get around them or through them. And sometimes we simply end up underneath it, or locked away behind it. But there is no stone, nor obstacle, no threat, that our God does not overcome. Daily we awake by the grace of God, rise to a new life by His power.

St. John Chrysostom, the Golden Tongue, Easter sermon from the late 300s.

Are there any who are devout lovers of God? Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival! Are there any who are grateful servants? Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord! Are there any weary with fasting? Let them now receive their wages! If any have toiled from the first hour, let them receive their due reward; If any have come after the third hour, let him with gratitude join in the Feast! And he that arrived after the sixth hour, let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss. And if any delayed until the ninth hour, let him not hesitate; but let him come too. And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour, let him not be afraid by reason of his delay. For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first. He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, as well as to him that toiled from the first.

To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows. He accepts the works as He greets the endeavor. The deed He honors and the intention He commends. Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord! First and last alike receive your reward; rich and poor, rejoice together! Sober and slothful, celebrate the day! You that have kept the fast, and you that have not, rejoice today for the Table is richly laden! Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one. Let no one go away hungry. 

Partake, all, of the cup of faith. Enjoy all the riches of His goodness! Let no one grieve at his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed. Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again; for forgiveness has risen from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free. He has destroyed it by enduring it. He destroyed Hell when He descended into it. He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh. Isaiah foretold this when he said, "You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below." Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with. It was in an uproar because it was mocked. It was in an uproar, for it was destroyed. It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated. It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive. Hell took a body, and discovered God. It took earth, and encountered Heaven. It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.

O death, where is thy sting? O Hell, where is thy victory? Christ is Risen, and you, O death, are annihilated! Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down! Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice! Christ is Risen, and life is liberated! Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead; for Christ having risen from the dead, is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!