This is the feast of victory

In 1978, a new Lutheran Book of Worship was published containing an innovation to the eucharistic liturgy of North American Lutherans. "This Is the Feast of Victory" was written as an alternate Song of Praise for inclusion in Setting One. It is now widely published in at least 30 recent worship books in North American, Canadian, and international publications.

"This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia. Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain, whose blood set us free to be people of God. Power, riches, wisdom, and strength, honor and blessing and glory are his. This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia. Sing with all the people of God and join in the hymn of all creation: Blessing and honor and glory and might be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen. This is the feast of victory for our God, for the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign. Alleluia" (LBW, 81-82).

Virtually all the wording and concept of this modern hymn was taken from lines and phrases of the New Testament book of Revelation. Since Lutherans do not even read the Book of Revelations, let alone acknowledge its existence, it can be said that a love of the Book of Revelations was not the reason the hymn was included in the eucharistic liturgy. Consequently, I have wondered if the inclusion of this hymn in our eucharistic liturgy is attributable to the influence of Swedish Lundensian theology and a belated acknowledgement and recognition of the victory motif present in the writings of Martin Luther.

Copyrighted 2006

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Gospel of Luke