All of us go down to the dust,
yet even at the grave we make our song;
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
(Service music in <>Evangelical Lutheran Worship, 223)

     The words from this hymn have been used for centuries in the Eastern Orthodox traditions and in Protestant funeral services at the Commendation of the Dead. While not a direct reference from scripture, this hymn refers to the hundreds of passages in scripture where we are reminded that we are dust and we will go down to the dust. In Genesis 3:19 we hear:
     By the sweat of your face
        you shall eat bread
     until you return to the ground,
        for out of it you were taken;
     you are dust,
        and to dust you shall return.
We are reminded of these words on Ash Wednesday when we hear them as we feel the ash inscribed on our foreheads. It is a reminder of our own mortality.
     However, this hymn also holds in tension the reminder of our future death, with the promise of a song of praise. Even in the depths of despair, even in death itself, we have the promise of God's everlasting love and life. In Psalm 44:25-26, part of a psalm filled to the brim with the pain, hardship, and questioning where God is in the midst of war, there is still an admittance of mortality and hope that God will help.
     For we sink down to the dust;
        our bodies cling to the ground.
     Rise up, come to our help.
        Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love.
This psalm excerpt has a message of hope. There is a cry out to God, redeem us because of who you are. You, God, are steadfast love. You have promised this love. Act!
     We hear this promise throughout scripture. As Christians we see the promise of God's steadfast love particularly in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus became dust for us and he is risen. And we sing "Alleluia!": a word of praise, of thanksgiving, and of hope. It is a word to sing when there is no other word that is able to contain the praise. Because of Jesus' own death and resurrection, we also have the promise of resurrection even in death. And so we are able to sing:
 
All of us go down to the dust,
yet even at the grave we make our song;
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
 
because even at the grave we make our song of praise. Alleluia.

Out of the depths we cry to you, O Lord. Yet, even at the grave, you give life. We pray with thanksgiving for the life that you give. We pray with thanksgiving that as you have accompanied us in life, you continue to accompany us in death. Lead us through life and death with songs of praise. Amen.

Contributed by Pastor Becky
Sunday November 7, 2010
Liturgical Year C Week 50
Sunday Gospel reading:
Lectionary 32 (Proper 27)
Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost