18 January 2010
New Lutheran Quote of the Day
The Lutheran Church today, in maintaining the practice of close Communion, witnesses to the corporate character of Christ's body and to the requirement that the member examine his life. It sees a danger in precipitously conferring the privileges of fellowship upon those who are as yet unaware of the responsibilities of that fellowship. -- Ernest Koenker, *Worship in Word and Sacrament* p. 42.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
8 comments:
Does he mean as in children?
Anastasia,
I don't think in his day (he published this book in 1959), the implications for children and the Eucharist had even entered his mind. At least I see nothing to indicate he was thinking along those lines. He's just rather reflecting on the situation with adults who in those days were beginning to be welcomed to our altars without professing the faith confessed at those altars. In the days since, of course, that particular problem has grown to enormous proportions among us Lutherans and the whole matter of when and under what parameters first communion takes place within the congregation has continued to simmer and has not come to any sort of resolution among us.
By the bye, Anastasia, if I might, a question for your beloved husband. The Greek of John 2: our Lord responds to the holy Theotokos with a literally rendered:
"What to you and to me?"
This is often rendered in English as "what is that to me?"
Am I completely missing something in Greek in wanting to hear that rather as:
"What is that to us (you and me)?"
Any insights from a native Greek speaker would be a blessing.
Thanks!
But isn't that a Hebrew idiom and not a Greek one? That's what I seem to remember learning.
Anastasia,
I hope my question wasn't misconstrued as an insult to your husband.
Yours in Christ,
Rev. Allen Yount
Good heavens, I can't even now see how that could be construed as an insult.
Also, I'm afraid I've forgotten to ask my husband, but will try to remember tomorrow, as he is already asleep right now.
To me, anyway, it seems clear that William is correct.
Nope, Demetrios says the King James translation is accurate. "What have you and I in common, woman?" is the sense of it. Apparently, He is reminding her that while she is indeed His mother after the flesh, yet He is her Creator. His calling her "woman" is an echo from Genesis, where Eve is "the woman." Apparently, He is gently telling her not to try to set he divine agenda.
Which makes it all the more interesting, doesn't it, that even though the hour has not come for Him to reveal Himself as God, yet that is just what He then proceeds to do. I don't know. Don't get it.
Thank your dear hubby for the verdict, Anastasia!
Post a Comment