If you're going to have...

...a eucharistic prayer, I still maintain that it is impossible to beat that of the Petri 1531 liturgy. How is this for great thanksgiving to God? [You will note how Divine Service 4 in LSB is deeply indebted to this prayer]

Verily it is meet right and blessed that we should in all places give thanks and praise to Thee, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God for all Thy benefits, and especially for that one that Thou didst unto us, when we all by reason of sins were in so bad a case that nought but damnation and eternal death awaited us, and no creature in heaven or earth could help us, then Thou didst send forth Thine only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, who was of the same divine nature as Thyself, didst suffer Him to become a man for our sake, didst lay our sins upon Him, and didst suffer him to undergo death instead of our all dying eternally, and as He hath overcome death and risen again into life, and now dieth nevermore, so likewise shall all they who put their trust therein overcome sins and death and through Him attain to everlasting life, and for our admonition that we should bear in mind and never forget such His benefit, in the night that He was betrayed celebrated a supper, in which He took the bread in His holy hands, gave thanks to His heavenly father, blessed it, brake it, and gave to His disciples, and said : Take ye and eat, this is My body which is given for you, do this in remembrance of Me.

Then the priest lifts it up, lays it down again, and takes the cup, saying :—

Likewise also he took the cup in His holy hands, gave thanks to His heavenly father, blessed it and gave to His disciples and said : Take and drink ye all of this, this is the cup of the new testament in My blood, which for you and for many is shed for the remission of sins ; as oft as ye do this, do this in remembrance of Me.

Then he lifts it up and sets it down again.

Afterwards is read or sung.

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth, heaven and earth are full of Thy glory, hosanna in the highest, Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord, hosanna in the highest.

Paula made my day...

...at our school's dinner auction when she told me that she looks forward to getting up at 4:30 in the morning so she can pray from Starck before heading off to work - and she especially loved Tuesdays prayer in remembrance of Baptism. YEAH!!!!

At the Name of Jesus

At the Name of Jesus, every knee shall bow,
Every tongue confess Him King of glory now;
’Tis the Father’s pleasure we should call Him Lord,
Who from the beginning was the mighty Word.

At His voice creation sprang at once to sight,
All the angel faces, all the hosts of light,
Thrones and dominations, stars upon their way,
All the heavenly orders, in their great array.

Humbled for a season, to receive a name
From the lips of sinners unto whom He came,
Faithfully He bore it, spotless to the last,
Brought it back victorious when from death He passed.

Bore it up triumphant with its human light,
Through all ranks of creatures, to the central height,
To the throne of Godhead, to the Father’s breast;
Filled it with the glory of that perfect rest.

In your hearts enthrone Him; there let Him subdue
All that is not holy, all that is not true;
Crown Him as your Captain in temptation’s hour;
Let His will enfold you in its light and power.

Christians, this Lord Jesus shall return again,
With His Father’s glory, with His angel train;
For all wreaths of empire meet upon His brow,
And our hearts confess Him King of glory now.

Glory, then, to Jesus, Who, the Prince of Light,
To a world in darkness brought the gift of sight,
Praise to God the Father; In the Spirit's love
Praise we all together Him who reigns above.
LSB 512

What a Fine Homily

by my internet friend Fr. Tapani Simojoki of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Fareham, England on Mark 13. Listen to the whole thing - you'll be blessed indeed!

P.S. Fr. Simojoki shared with me a publication of our dear Dr. Kleinig tititled "What's the Use of Praising God" and it is from it that my "New Lutheran Quote of the Day" will be coming for a few weeks!

New Lutheran Quote of the Day

The Word of God, the written and proclaimed Word, creates and builds the Church. There is no other means to build the Church of Christ. For the Word of God alone creates faith. -- Hermann Sasse, *The Lonely Way* vol. 1:157

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

The perpetual action and daily exercise of faith in this life is to abide and continue in Him, lest the remission of sins be lost - but that it may be retained more firmly and surely. -- Martin Chemnitz *Examen* II:239

Patristic Quote of the Day

When we call you, not to earthly, but to heavenly pursuits, not to temporal ones, but to those which will benefit your soul forever, we are not looking for any passing gain, but invite you to heavenly treasures. -- St. Caesarius of Arles, Homily 74

Check Out the Summaries

that the Commission on Worship has put out for introducing the Sundays of the year: Lectionary Summaries. Very nice to print at the head of the bulletin to let the faithful focus a bit on what the readings will bring them that day. Kudos, COW-boys! Nicely done.

Listening to Praetorius

I am convinced, utterly convinced, that no one understands Lutheran Orthodoxy who doesn't experience something of the sublime glorification of God in the liturgy of those days. Talk about evangelische Ansatz! It was first and foremost an explosion of praise that brought Western music to new heights and sometimes I think that we've never come close to scaling those lofty peaks in the many centuries since. And it's wrong to think of Bach as isolated; he was the last of the greats of those days, but he stood on the shoulders of giants too.

The End of an Era

The last sibling of O.P. Kretzmann, Norman Kretzmann, has reposed in Christ. Thanks, Fr. Cota, for the information.

One of my new favorites

from the Praetorius Christ-Mass:

1.
Uns ist ein Kindlein heut geborn,
von einer Jungfraun auser korn,
ein wahrer Mensch und wahrer Gott,
daß er uns helf aus aller Not,
sein Nam ist Wunderbar und Rat,
durch ihn haben wir funden Gnad.

2.
Was hätt uns Gott mehr können tun,
Denn daß er uns schenkt seinen Sohn,
Der von uns weggenommen hat,
All unser Sünd und Missetat,
Erlöst uns von der Sünd und Pein,
Darein wir sollten ewig sein.

3.
Freu dich du werte Christenheit,
Und dank es Gott in Ewigkeit,
Haß aber alle Sünd und List,
Davon du teur erlöset bist,
Sei fortan gottfürchtig und rein,
Zu Ehren dem neugbornen Kindelein.

My rough English rendering:

To us is born a little Child
Of Virgin holy, meek, and mild;
He is true man and God in one,
To help us He to earth has come.
His name is Wondrous Prince of Peace
Through Him God’s grace shall never cease.

What more for us could God have done
Than sending us His own dear Son,
Who took away from us our sin
And all the sorrows of our kin,
Released us from the grief and shame
That was our due in hellish flame?

So joy, O Christian folk, this morn
And thank our God nor His love scorn,
But hate all sin and from it flee,
For great the price to set you free;
Be godly therefore and up-raise
To this young Child your songs of praise!

From the Last Sunday Liturgy

The Bridegroom soon will call us, "Come to the wedding feast"...The ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads. They shall obtain gladness and joy and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. O Lord, make me to know my end and what is the measure of my days...O Lord, absolve Your people from their offenses that, from the bonds of our sins which by reason of our frailty we have brought upon ourselves, we may be delivered by Your bountiful goodness...New heavens and a new earth... The wolf and the lamb shall graze together... In many-colored robes the king's daughter is led to the king with her virgin companions following behind her... God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ... I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband... Watch, therefore, for you do not know the day nor the hour... Wake, awake, for night is flying... She wakes, she rises from her gloom... And of this fruit so pure and sweet, the Lord invites the world to eat, to find within this cross of wood, the tree of life with every good... Wide open stand the gates adorned with pearl, While round God's golden throne the choirs of saints in endless circles curl, and joyous praise the Son! They watch Him now descending to visit waiting earth. The Lord of Life unending, brings dying hope new birth... Thine the glory in the night, no more dying, only light... In my love's baptismal river I have made you Mine forever. Go, My children, with My blessing - You are My own...

So I Tried

to finish up my Christmas shopping on my last day of vacation. I went and looked around the stores. Bah, humbug! Ended up purchasing a single item. I came home, sat down at the computer, with a fresh pot of coffee, and finished ALL of my shopping in minutes. Good grief. Why didn't I just do that from the start??? Next year I think I will shop ENTIRELY online. Someone remind me to do that, okay?

The King

of the chorales, is our hymn of the day for this coming Sunday, the Last Sunday of the Church Year. Pastor Nicolai wrote both text and tune as his parish was being decimated by a great plague. With no family not in mourning, he wrote a book on the joy that is ours in Christ, the joy of everlasting life, and appended to that book three poems, of which this is generally regarded as the greatest. Truly, here is a wondrous fulfillment of Samson's riddle: "Out of the eater, something to eat; out of the strong, something sweet." When death was like a lion devouring his parish, Pr. Nicolai had the faith to see the lion as DEAD itself, and to bring forth from the lion's corpus this divine honey, this sublime text and tune. Also greatly beloved is Bach's fabulous setting of the second stanza of this hymn:

"Wake, awake, for night is flying,"
The watchmen on the heights are crying;
"Awake, Jerusalem, arise!"
Midnight hears the welcome voices
And at the thrilling cry rejoices:
"Oh, where are ye, ye virgins wise?
The Bridegroom comes, awake!
Your lamps with gladness take!
Alleluia!
With bridal care
Yourselves prepare
To meet the Bridegroom, who is near!"

Zion hears the watchmen singing
And all her heart with joy is springing;
She wakes, she rises from her gloom.
For her Lord comes down all glorious,
The strong in grace, in truth victorious;
Her star is ris'n, her light is come.
Now come, Thou Blessed One,
Lord Jesus, God's own Son,
Hail! Hosanna!
We enter all
The wedding hall
To eat the Supper at Thy call.

Now let all the heav'ns adore Thee,
Let saints and angels sing before Thee
With harp and cymbals' clearest tone.
Of one pearl each shining portal,
Where, dwelling with the choir immortal,
We gather round Thy radiant throne.
No eye has seen the light,
No ear has heard the might
Of Thy glory!
Therefore will we
Eternally
Sing hymns of praise and joy to Thee!
LSB 516

New Lutheran Quote of the Day

Ever since that hour when, in the celebration of the first Supper on the night when he was betrayed, Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word of the Father, as at once the High Priest and the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, distributed his true body and blood to his circle of disciples under bread and wine, thereby making them members of his body and bestowing on them forgiveness of sins along with life and salvation, the heart of the church has been beating in the Lord's Supper. -- Hermann Sasse, *Lonely Way* I:425

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

We now have the comforting promise that Christ, our Head, our King and High Priest is present in the assembly of His Church as it is gathered together in His name in the ministry of the Word and sacrament, and thus present with His entire Church everywhere, that is, with all and each one of His members, thus also with me in my prayer, in my trouble, and in the guidance of my whole life. -- Martin Chemnitz, *Two Natures in Christ* p. 453

Patristic Quote of the Day

What a man attentively thinks of at the time of prayer, dearest brethren, that he has set up as a kind of god in his heart, and he seems to keep it and worship it as his god and lord. This fact inspires in me unbearable pain and trembling, whenever a mind in the very act of prayer is carried away to various worldly occupations. The man seems to discuss one thing in words, but is clearly seen to be far away in thought, as though when we speak to God we should think of anything else except with our whole heart and soul and mind to ask for the forgiveness of our sins and His grace. -- St. Caesarius of Arles, Sermon 71

Commemoration of Elizabeth of Hungary

From our Synod's website (and the Treasury of Daily Prayer):

Born in Pressburg, Hungary, in 1207, Elizabeth was the daughter of King Andrew II and his wife Gertrude. Given as a bride in an arranged political marriage, Elizabeth became the wife of Louis of Thuringia in Germany at the age of 14. She had a spirit of Christian generosity and charity, and the home she established for her husband and three children in the Wartburg Castle at Eisenach was known for its hospitality and family love. Elizabeth often supervised the care of the sick and needy and even gave up her bed to a leper at one time. Widowed at the age of 20, she made provisions for her children and entered into an austere life as a nun in the Order of Saint Francis. Her self-denial led to failing health and an early death in 1231 at the age of 24. Remembered for her self-sacrificing ways, Elizabeth is commemorated through the many hospitals named for her around the world.

The Treasury offers a beautiful prayer for the day, asking "Mighty King, whose inheritance is not of this world, inspire in us the humility and benevolent charity of Elizabeth of Hungary." (p. 929) She is a shining light for Christ's people, pointing the way to live welcoming every person as Christ, and every need and suffering as His own.

The Writing for today (from Dr. Luther) captures her spirit: "But if anyone earnestly believed that he is receiving the Lord Himself when he receives a poor brother, there would be no need for such anxious, zealous, and soliticous exhortations to do works of love...together with godly Abraham we would run to meet the wretched people, invite them into our homes, seize upon this honor and distinction ahead of others and say: 'O Lord Jesus, come to me; enjoy my bread, wine, silver and gold. How well it is has been invested by me when I invest it in You!'" (p. 928)

Yup

it has been proven beyond dispute that liverpool is a totally, absolutely, unbelievably stupid game.

Kenyan and Baltic Bishops Speak Up

[HT to Dr. Tighe for providing me with these]

EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN KENYA ON THE CHURCH APOSTATE

This is the statement of the executive committee of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya that met on the 12th November 2009, on the Apostasy of the church of Sweden to consecrate not just a woman to the office of bishop but a lesbian bishop on the 8th November 2009 in Uppsala cathedral.

We, in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya, are watching with shock, dismay and disappointment, the news about these recent developments on what we would call “ the mega” Church bodies in the world are up to, when they work so hard and tirelessly to lead the world into religiousless society (leave alone Christianity)

In addition to our statement on what took place in the USA when ELCA in its Church wide Assembly held on 21 August 2009, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, resolved officially to open the door of the office of the public ministry to those who are in “committed” same gender sexual relations, we further state that it beats our logics and saddens us very much that the church of Sweden, which at the reformation was the pillar of Biblical Reformation within Christendom has now decided to go apostate by consecretating a lesbian woman as bishop on the 8th November 2009 and indeed women in the office of the Ministry over and above its earlier decision to allow same sex partners to hold the Sacred office of Word and Sacrament.

We therefore again reiterate as we did in our statement condemning the decision of ELCA issued on the 25th of September 2009;

1. that we condemn in the strongest terms possible this unfortunate and anti-scriptural development in a church body that bears the name of the great reformer, Dr. Martin Luther;
2. that these Church Bodies have rejected the faith of Christendom as have been confessed all along starting with the Apostles and the fathers as is also confessed today in the three ecumenical creeds.
3. that these church bodies have out rightly rejected the Authority of the Scriptures as the Word of God
4. to the Lutherans, Dr. Martin Luther brought the Church from being under the authority of man and speculations of human philosophies to be under the authority of the Scriptures.
5. that we want to remind those Lutheran Churches and others who ordain women into office of the Word and Sacrament that these unfortunate practice is a novelty that just started some fifty year ago and indeed an epicenter of spiritual lesbianism in the Church today.
6. that we condemn sexual perversion in all its manifestations;
7. that same sex marital union is not only contrary to God’s will as clearly expressed in the Holy Scripture, but also repugnant to the natural created social order;
8. that God’s plan and purpose of marriage is fulfilled only in heterosexual (one man - one woman) life long commitment;
9. that this act by the Church of Sweden constitutes a loveless and callous disregard of the spiritual condition of those caught in homosexual bondage; and
10. that, most seriously of all, it is nothing less than a denial of the transformative power of the love we know in our Savior Jesus Christ, Who seeks all sinners in order to restore them to communion with the Father through the ministrations of His Holy Spirit in Word and sacrament.

Therefore, we must confess the Word of God and be faithful to it. In the name of our crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ, we call upon the Church of Sweden to repent of its apostasy from the truth. We feel compassion for those among us who are caught in homosexual bondage and want them to know the transforming power of God’s forgiveness and love. Thus we hereby dedicate ourselves anew into the service of Him Who came to serve us sinners, including those caught in homosexual bondage, and Who by the power of His cross and resurrection creates in us a new will to please Him in patterns of living that are chaste and pure. In saying these things, we are standing with our fellow redeemed in the great consensus of the one holy catholic and apostolic Church, particularly with those church bodies in the International Lutheran Council. We want to assure the remnant Church bodies in the world, that as much the apostasy may continue aggressively, we believe the Church will not be defaced from the face of the earth. We therefore want to encourage and stand with the remnant Church bodies in Europe like Mission province in Sweden, Lutheran Church Missouri Synod in America, Faithful Lutheran Churches in Africa and the rest of the World to stand up and take the Challenge to remain faithful to the Scriptures - for by the Scripture the Lord will save the Church in the World even unto end of the earth.

Signed this 13th day of November 2009:
Most Rev. Dr. Walter Obare Arch Bishop
Rev. John Halakhe General Secretary

MESSAGE FROM THE MEETING OF THE BALTIC LUTHERAN BISHOPS
The leaders of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Estonia, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia and Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lithuania met in Tallinn on the 3rd and 4th of November, 2009 to strengthen the long experience of unity of the Lutheran churches in the Baltic countries and to pray for the fellowship among Christians of the whole world, recognizing that in our time the ties among and within Christian communities in many places are put to the test. Bishops also discussed tasks and responsibilities of their churches looking for better ways of co-operation in the future. Christian faith means living with Christ and serving one another.

Especially at times of the economic difficulties when so many people have lost their external foothold and inner peace, we invite our compatriots to expand their appreciation of their Christian roots and to utilize all the spiritual wealth that is revealed in the Holy Scripture and offered to everyone who turns to God and puts their trust on Christ. The present crisis in the world economy is a fruit of a long term failure to act accordingly the principles which God has laid in the foundations of His creation. Consumerism and individualism of the modern society have taken their toll. To look for solution only by means of mending economy would mean to repeat the same mistake.

A spiritual renewal must come first, a renewed sense of balance between rights and obligations, communion empathy, solidarity, and mutual support. We believe that the most convincing inner motivation for that change is found in an encounter of a person with the living Christ. To facilitate that encounter by word and deed is the first and foremost calling of the Christian church. Jesus Christ said: “Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you.” (Matt.28:19-20)

The Christian community as a part of the society is not separated from issues related to the natural and human environment both locally and globally. Justice in the society and life quality of the people or protection of our Baltic Sea against the state negligence and corporate exploitation are some of the critical examples of this area of concern. As communities gathered around the Word of God and the keepers of Christian ethos our churches must address the spiritual root-causes of the contemporary problems. The churches must remember that the main instrument entrusted to them by God is His word – the law and the gospel - and the service to the neighbour in charity.

We also invite our political powers to realize more clearly the spiritual dimension of the human life and the good fruits of a positive co-operation between state, municipalities, schools and the church. Teaching and implementing Christian principles strenghthen the family as well as the whole community. Liberty of conscience and freedom of speech belong to the values of society defining religious life not only as a private but also as a public social right which has to be fostered. Religious education and religious studies form an inseparable part of this right.

At the present time a common witness of churches is vitally important, therefore we express our deepest concern about modern tendencies that weaken the fellowship among Christians and cause divisions in and among churches. The recent decisions made by some member churches of the Lutheran World Federation to approve of religious matrimony for couples of the same gender and to equate such conjugal life with marriage or to ordain non celibate homosexual persons for pastoral or episcopal office epitomize these tendencies that are tearing apart fellowhip among Christians. We affirm that the marriage is the conjugal life between a man and a woman and that a homosexual activity is incompatible with the discipleship of Christ. We believe that in following the modern trends, churches are departing from the apostolic doctrine of human sexuality and marriage. We see the Lutheran communion and eccumenical efforts endangered by such decisions and actions because they lead to a situation where the Lutheran churches, members of the Lutheran World Federation are not able to fully recognize each others ecclesiastical offices, to exchange the ministries and to participate together in preaching the Word and celebrating the sacraments.

We call upon our Lutheran sisters and brothers to unity and co-operation based upon the foundation of Holy Scripture and loyalty to the Lutheran confessions. Contemporary challenges demand a firm stand based upon timeless truths and values. The common understanding of the Gospel by churches is a treasure we cannot afford to lose and it needs to be passed on to the current and future generations. Our mission is to be faithful in that which we have received, God’s mercy. We are to serve our Lord and our neighbours thus until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God (Eph. 4:13)

Archbishop of Riga Janis Vanags Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia
Bishop of Daugavpils Einars Alpe Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia
Bishop of Liepaja Pavils Bruvers Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia
Bishop Mindaugas Sabutis Evangelical Lutheran Church of Lithuania
Archbishop Andres Põder Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church
Archbishop emeritus Kuno Pajula Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church
Bishop Einar Soone Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church

Poem by James McAuley

My friend Kiran Krishna shared this with me today. I thought it quite profound. I'd not heard of McAuley who was a Roman Catholic Christian in Australia.

Come into yourself a while,
Be deaf to outer cries;
Ask not who wins, who falls, who rages,
Or what each doubtful sign presages,
Or what face treachery wears.

It is not said we shall succeed,
Save as his Cross prevails:
The good we choose and mean to do
Prospers if he wills it too,
And if not, then it fails.

Nor is failure our disgrace:
By ways we cannot know
He keeps the merit in his hand,
And suddenly as no one planned,
Behold the kingdom grow!

Lectio Divina

Zedekiah's vain reliance upon Egypt gives some flesh to the Psalm's exhortation: "Trust not in princes!" How often we too fall into the trap of looking for solutions from mere mortals, ever as fickle and unreliable as Egypt of old.

Yet there is One Prince we can trust. We saw Him confessed in today's second reading: "This is Jesus, King of the Jews." Here is no mere mortal. Here is the Son of God who refuses to come down from the cross because He is determined not to save Himself, but us. He is forsaken that we might never be. He dies that we might live. He lives that we might never die!

On a totally different tact: Note again at the end of the second reading the reference to a Mary who is "Mother of James and Joseph." Nor can this be the Blessed Virgin, for she did not stand "looking on from a distance" as this woman did, but beneath the very cross itself (John 19); and it would be exceedingly odd for the Holy Evangelist to refer to her (were she the Blessed Mother) in any other way than "His" or "Jesus'" mother. I'm happy to note that TLSB picks up on this: "Possibly Mary the wife of Clopas, a sister to Mary the mother of Jesus."

Piepkorn Goodie

I believe that you have acted wisely in not deserting the Church of your Baptism and Confirmation for another obedience. In my experience there is nothing to which a Christian can legitimately aspire in any other communion that is not implicit in the Church of the Augsburg Confession. If, at a particular time or in a particular place, that which he seeks is not explicit, it may be that God has called him to that time and place in order patiently to recover something that the Church of the Augsburg Confession has lost or neglected or overlooked. Let me counsel you therefore to stay where you are and faithfully to pray, to study, to witness and to work for a restoration of sacramental life to the Church that above all others is capable of most fully utilizing it. -- A. C. Piepkorn, written in December of 1952 to a student who had thought about leaving Lutheranism for Anglicanism. Copyright © 2006 American Lutheran Publicity Bureau. Reprinted with permission. Lutheran Forum, 40:3 (Una Sancta/Fall 2006): 48-55. www.alpb.org. (Thanks to Dr. Secker for sending me the article)

With Heart and Hands Uplifted

Rejoice, rejoice, believers,
And let your lights appear;
The evening is advancing
And darker night is near.
The Bridegroom is arising
And soon is drawing nigh.
Up, pray and watch and wrestle;
At midnight comes the cry.

The watchers on the mountain
Proclaim the Bridegroom near;
Go forth as He approaches
With alleluias clear.
The marriage feast is waiting;
The gates stand wide open stand.
Arise, O heirs of glory;
The Bridegroom is at hand.

The saints, who here in patience
Their cross and suff'rings bore,
Shall live and reign forever
When sorrow is no more.
Around the throne of glory
The Lamb they shall behold;
In triumph cast before Him
Their diadems of gold.

Our hope and expectation,
O Jesus, now appear;
Arise, O Sun so longed for,
O'er this benighted sphere.
With hearts and hands uplifted,
We plead, O Lord, to see
The day of earth's redemption
That sets Your people free!
LSB 515

Speaking of Baptismal Identity...

...I recently read in one of St. Caesarius' homilies on Baptism how in that Sacrament we renounce the old ruler of our lives and take an oath of allegiance to the Blessed Trinity; we join the militia Christi. "Do you renounce the devil? And all his works? And all his ways? Do you believe in God the Father? the Son? the Holy Spirit?"

The recent tragedy at Ft. Hood reminded me of this sermon, for St. Caesarius points out that the person who willfully chooses to serve sin after having been baptized is in fact a defector from Christ's army (whose assault is constant and ongoing against sin) and becomes a traitor. Such wear the uniform of Christ and yet choose to serve the purposes of the enemy; such pretend to have allegiance to the King when in fact they give it to the devil!

Lord, make us faithful soldiers for Christ, that we may be worthy of the uniform we wear, remembering whose side we are on, and join in your never-ending assault on sin, Satan, and eternal death in this age!

Comforting Thoughts from Fr. Peters

on our baptismal identity.

New Lutheran Quote of the Day

In the community of the Church, as it is realized in the Supper, we are dealing with a spiritual and physical state of affairs between Christ and believers that affects the whole man according to soul and body, and the whole Christ according to His divine and human natures. This community is only realized if it is actually the case that the whole Christ is really present according to both his divine and human natures, that there is a genuine oral eating of the true body and blood of the Lord, that his corporeality miraculously enters into ours, and that the Sacrament has an effect on both body and soul. -- Hermann Sasse, *The Lonely Way* vol. 1 p. 424

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

Indeed, in the Lord's Supper the essence of the Gospel is proclaimed - that Christ was delivered unto death in our behalf, and His own Blood was shed for the remission of our sins. -- Chytraeus, *On Sacrifice* p. 130

Patristic Quote of the Day

So that no one may lack confidence in the divine forgiveness, our Lord like a very kind father consoles us through the words of the Prophet: 'I desire not the death of the sinner, but that he be converted and live,' and again: 'The wickedness of the wicked shall not hurt him, in what day soever he shall turn from his wickedness.' Still, even though His mercy is so great toward all men, it is profitable for us not to delay in turning to the Lord, and not to heap up sin upon sin. -- St. Caesarius of Arles, Homily 65

Lectio Divina

Jeremiah 23 and 33 are an interesting study in contrasts. For in the former, it is the Branch who is named "The LORD our Righteousness" but in the latter it is the people - Judah, Jerusalem - which bear this name. And in today's NT reading, Pilate is warned by his wife: "Have nothing to do with that righteous man." A curious name for Him. But that is what He is: the Righteous Man, the One who alone is just of all peoples of the earth, who renders to His Father that which is His Father's due by an unfailing fear, love, and trust. And so He IS the Righteousness of His people, as St. Paul would say: "whom God made unto us righteousness." He and He alone is our boast, our holiness, our very life.

New Lutheran Quote of the Day

Only as we continually repent can we live. -- Hermann Sasse, *The Lonely Way* Vol. 1:71

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

Once the wood of the curse, [the cross] has now become, after the Promised Blessing for all people offered Himself upon it, a tree of blessing, an altar of sacrifice for the atonement, and a sweet-smelling aroma to God. Today, the cross is still a terror - but only to hell. It shines upon its ruin as a sign of victory over sin, death, and Satan. -- C. F. W. Walther, *Treasury* p. 922

Patristic Quote of the Day

Beloved brethren, whenever someone happens to fall into some serious sin or fault, as human weakness does, he should neither despair because God is just nor be presumptuous because He is merciful. He should fear His justice in order to obtain mercy, and he should have confidence in His mercy in such a way that he dreads His justice. -- St. Caesarius of Arles, *Homily 64*

Nothing

gets me so psyched for Advent/Christmas season as listening to the Praetorius' Mass for Christmas Morning. Glorious. Simply glorious. So many favorites in it: Christum, Wir Sollen Loben Schon; Jesaja Dem Propheten; In Dulci Jubilo (Alpha est et O!)...not to mention the chanting of the collect, the readings, the Our Father and the Verba. All a bit of heaven on earth.

On EWTN

today, the Mass began with FRANZMANN'S "In Adam We Have All Been One." Sweet! I love it when Roman Catholics sing Lutheran doctrine - especially that on original sin!!!

For Control of the Tongue

We pray You, O Lord,
to keep our tongues from evil
and our lips from speaking deceit,
that as Your holy angels
continuously sing praises
to You in heaven,
so may we at all times
glorify You on earth;
through Jesus Christ,
Your Son, our Lord. LSB Altar Book p. 451

On Keeping Holy Advent

For us Western Christians, the Advent fast is fast approaching (our Eastern fellow Christians already have begun it). But how shall we approach this holy time so that it produces spiritual benefit for us?

First, it requires time. Here's where the busyness of our lives does us such a great disservice. We hurry ourselves to the grave. Don't think of the extra services in Church as "one more thing" added to your already insanely busy schedule. Instead, see them for what they are: oases of peace that will allow you time for prayer and reflection on the coming of our Savior into the flesh, His coming in the Sacrament, and His coming in glory. Make every effort not to miss a single one of the Sunday or Wednesday liturgies. We were not made for busyness; we were made for communion with the Blessed Trinity!

Second, it requires time. Here's where the busyness of our lives does us such a great disservice. We hurry ourselves to the grave. Instead of thinking of extra time in the Word and in prayer as "one more thing" added to your already insanely busy schedule, see it for what it is: a daily oasis of peace that can prepare you for the joyful celebration of the incarnation. Make every effort not to miss a single day of prayer in the Treasury and seek to expand your prayer time with the addition of one extra office. If you already pray Matins daily, add Noontime Prayer or Vespers or Compline. If you pray Matins and Vespers daily, add Noontime Prayer or Compline. You might want to add the praying of the Litany to your devotions at the dinner table. And if you can, set aside time to sing together as a family the great hymns of our Church for this season. We were not made for busyness; we were made for communion with the Blessed Trinity!

Third - you guessed it! - it requires time. Here's where the busyness of our lives does us such a great disservice. We hurry ourselves to the grave. Spend some time with an honest confrontation of God's Law, examining your life. Use a tool such as the Preparation for Confession and Absolution According to the Ten Commandments (pp. 1460ff) in the Treasury. Recognize your sinfulness and then go to your pastor, confess the sins revealed by God's law and receive the Holy Absolution. We were not made for busyness; we were made for communion with the Blessed Trinity.

Starck writes: "During the holy season of Advent, [believing Christians] meditate on the love of their heavenly Father, who spared not His only Son but sent Him into the world to suffer and die, and thus acquire salvation for all people. They consider the ardent love of Jesus, who was clothed with our flesh and blood in order that He might bring us to heaven and give us unending happiness. They give praise for the grace of the Holy Spirit, who has placed the gifts lavished on our human race before the souls of believers, who has made them their own, and who causes them to recognize these gifts in such a vivid and effectual manner that they seem to have been given this very day. Accordingly, they make this holy season a time of devotion and prayer, and begin and end it with hearing and meditating on the Word of God, with singing festival hymns, and with a quiet and godly way of living." (pp. 49, 50)

More to fit into your busy schedule? Yes. More moments of peace, of quiet, time for tears of repentance, time for joy in the presence of God. Moments to lay aside the worldly cares that too easily weigh down our hearts and glorify Him who took on flesh to redeem you and who will appear again in glory to bring you home; to be ever more conformed to His image; to let His Word and Sacrament do their healing work in your life. Welcome, holy Advent! We rejoice at your approach:

Hark! A thrilling voice is sounding!
"Christ is near," we hear it say.
"Cast away the works of darkness,
All you children of the day!"

Startled at the solemn warning
Let the earth-bound soul arise;
Christ, its sun, all tears dispelling,
Shines upon the morning skies.

See, the Lamb so long expected,
Comes with pardon down from heav'n.
Let us haste with tears of sorrow,
One and all, to be forgiv'n.

So, when next He comes in glory
And the world is wrapped in fear,
He will shield us with His mercy
And with words of love draw near.

Honor, glory, might, dominion
To the Father and the Son
With the everliving Spirit
While eternal ages run!
LSB 345

P.S. On the FAST, do check out the information on the December Ember Days in Treasury, page 21 and the section in the The Lutheran Study Bible on fasting, page 189 for concrete guidance on the how of a fast.

On the Discipline of Daily Prayer

What I suspect is an under-utilized part of our wonderful Treasury of Daily Prayer, is the Daily Prayer for the Christian, beginning on page 1306. The person who offers these intercessions regularly will soon realize what a blessing they are, for they teach us to remember before God the needs of all sorts and conditions of men. By the time the weekly round is finished, you'll have prayed for:

* the proper observance of the Lord's Day
* the unity, preservation and spread of the Church
* your pastor
* the spread of the Gospel throughout the world
* the troubled and sorrowful
* women with child
* the needy
* the persecuted
* strength and opportunities to confess Christ's name
* the needs of the dying
* deliverance from eternal death
* forgiveness for arrogance
* a hunger for the true Body and Blood of the Savior
* growth in the fruit of the Spirit
* a right use of the Sacrament
* the power of the Passion to comfort us and to snuff out our evil desires
* forgiveness for inner blindness, disbelief, doubt, feeble-mindedness, impatience, evil desires and other sins
* power to hate our sin
* preparation to join in the eternal liturgy sung before God's throne
* the appearing of Christ in glory

And I left out a ton of other stuff. One prayer is assigned for each day, and you soon slip into the rhythm of the Church's prayers:

Sunday - Resurrection
Monday - general intercessions
Tuesday - the persecuted church
Wednesday - the dying
Thursday - the Eucharist
Friday - the Passion of Christ
Saturday - Confession and preparation for Sunday's liturgy

If you've not added these wonderful prayers to your daily round in the use of the Treasury, a good time to grow in your prayer life is soon coming: the Advent Fast. Join with your brothers and sisters in Christ in praying them. You'll be blessed!

Was Heisst Lutherisch?

Sasse wrote a fine book on the topic, but Fr. Peters answers in a far more succinct way that is just as challenging. Check it out: What is a Lutheran?

New Lutheran Quote of the Day

Theology is interpretation of God's Word, and not the exercise of human wit in the fields of the divine mysteries. -- Herman Sasse, *Scripture and the Church* p. 316.

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

The fact that even those who believe in Holy Scripture err in articles of faith is not because God's Word is unclear and misleading, but simply because those believers too often follow their own reason, their conceive, their heart, their prejudices, or the authority of man instead of the clear Word of God. -- C. F. W. Walther, *God Grant It!* p. 894.

Patristic Quote of the Day

It is certain, dearly beloved, that if we always consider God's benefits toward us, which He conferred without any preceding merits on our part, sin will not have dominion over us, or, if it does overtake us, it will be corrected at once by repentance. Truly, who could conceive, much less express in words, the great goodness of our God toward us? He made us when we did not exist, He later restored us to life when we had perished. He suffered death, He delivered us by His precious Blood, He descended into hell, He snatched us from the jaws of eternal death, and He promised us eternal rewards. -- St. Caesarius of Arles, *Homily 57*

Carlo Was Right...

...Hoegaarden is a quite fine beer. I think I need to stock up!

New Lutheran Quote of the Day

Lutheran doctrine is not identical with the doctrine of Luther. -- Hermann Sasse, *Here We Stand* p. 78

Patristic Quote of the Day

It is a source of great joy to me, dearly beloved, and I thank God that you come to church with pious devotion on the holy feasts. Although we rejoice at your devotion through God's goodness, there are many more whose ruin causes us sorrow. I am speaking of those who desire to quarrel rather than to pray when they come to church. -- St. Caesarius of Arles, Homily 55

Old Lutheran Quote of the Day

The picture of the spiritual building which God has built in the church is truly beautiful and pleasant. The blessed city of Jerusalem which is in the heavens is built of living stones. These stones by nature are unpolished, but they are polished by tensions and pressures and various crosses on earth; they are each fitted in their own places and placed by the hands of the artisan. And the cornerstone and foundation is Christ Himself, sent by the heavenly Father so that the stones which in themselves are dead, set on Him, might receive from Him life and Spirit. He also is the firm foundation of His church, so that not even "the gates of hell can prevail [against it]." And because He is the cornerstone, by connection with Him He firmly binds the walls together, so that the building does not fall apart and never can even develop cracks. Let the godly think very carefully about this picture. -- Blessed Martin Chemnitz, *Loci* II:695

Hymn of the Day for Trinity 23

Who trusts in God
A strong abode
In heav'n and earth possesses;
Who looks in love
To Christ above,
No fear that heart oppresses.
In You alone,
Dear Lord, we own
Sweet hope and consolation,
Our shield from foes,
Our balm for woes,
Our great and sure salvation.

Though Satan's wrath
Beset our path
And worldly scorn assail us,
While You are near,
We shall not fear;
Your strength will never fail us.
Your rod and staff
Will keep us safe
And guide our steps forever;
Nor shades of death,
Nor hell beneath
Our lives from You will sever.

In all the strife
Of mortal life
Our feet will stand securely;
Temptation's hour
Will lose its power,
For You will guard us surely.
O God, renew
With heavenly dew
Our body, soul, and spirit
Until we stand
At Your right hand
Through Jesus' saving merit.

--Joachim Magdeburg, LSB 714

Confiteor - I Confess

The Confiteor was traditionally said at the beginning of the Divine Service and in Compline, but in current Lutheran use the text appears only in Compline; since the time of the Reformation, other prayers of Confession have come into use at the Divine Service. In Lutheran use, the prayer's traditional invocation of the Blessed Virgin, the Archangel Michael, and others have been removed, while the notion of confessing in their presence is maintained: "before the whole company of heaven."

Liturgist:

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

Silence for self-examination

I confess to God Almighty,
before the whole company of
heaven and to you, my brothers
and sisters, that I have sinned in
thought, word, and deed by my
fault, by my own fault, by my
own most grievous fault;
wherefore I pray God Almighty
to have mercy on me, forgive
me all my sins, and bring me to
everlasting life. Amen.

Congregation:
The almighty and merciful
Lord grant you pardon,
forgiveness, and remission of all
your sins. Amen.

Congregation:
I confess to God Almighty,
before the whole company of
heaven and to you, my brothers
and sisters, that I have sinned in
thought, word, and deed by my
fault, by my own fault, by my
own most grievous fault;
wherefore I pray God Almighty
to have mercy on me, forgive
me all my sins, and bring me to
everlasting life. Amen.

Liturgist:
The almighty and merciful
Lord grant you pardon,
forgiveness, and remission of all
your sins.

Congregation:
Amen.

--Compline: Prayer at the Close of the Day, LSB p. 254

Bring on Global Warming

Can't believe that it is November 14 and Cindi and I just went on a 21 mile bike ride - and I went in shorts! I could get used to this, I really could.

P.S. And looking at the weather forecast this week, I'm glad we went today!