...someone recently inquired about the saints that we regularly commemorate in our Divine Service at St. Paul's:
The Blessed Virgin Mary,
St. Joseph, her husband;
St. John the Baptist;
Sts. Peter and Paul.
Why these? The reason is that they are important witnesses: the holy Virgin and St. Joseph to the circumstances surrounding the incarnation itself; St. John the Baptist to the miracles at the Baptism of our Lord; Sts. Peter and Paul to the Resurrected Christ as victor over death.
There are, of course, many more who could be remembered, but we especially honor those whom God chose to be His witnesses to these wondrous events upon which our faith rests and by commemorating them in our prayers, we rejoice in the One to whom they witness and who has made them all sharers in His unending life.
14 March 2009
Upcoming Commemorations
Note, Treasury users, that this Tuesday marks St. Patrick's Day (Commemoration propers - including the entire Rune of St. Patrick - on page 1284ff.) and on Thursday St. Joseph, Guardian of Jesus (Commemoration propers on page 1286). The week following we will have the unspeakable joy of the Feast of the Annunciation of Our Lord on Wednesday, March 25th, and its propers on pp. 1286 and 1287 - more on that later. Just a heads up for now.
You Know What Floats My Boat?
Planning Easter Vigil! I love that liturgy above all others. I'm really looking forward to it this year - no Baptisms that day, but we will be confirming four (possibly five) adults. What joy to return to Baptism as the fount of our life in the Savior and to rejoice in sharing His resurrection victory that evening!
Lectio Divina
In today's Matins we read the account of the blessing of Jacob. So...
A younger son receives the blessing of the older son.
His mother clothes him with the clothes of his older brother.
His father smells the smell of the older brother upon him.
He receives the older son's blessing, while the older son receives what can only be called his curse.
And there we are; before our Father, clothed by our mother in the garments of our brother, smelling like him, and the blessing that is His is poured out upon us. The ultimate sweet swap (Schroeder), the blessed exchange that we read about earlier in the week from the Epistle to Diognetus:
Oh, the sweet exchange!
Oh, the incomprehensible handiwork of God!
Oh, the unlooked for kindness:
that, on the one hand, the lawlessness of the many be hidden in the Righteous One,
while, on the other hand, the righteousness of the One justify the many lawless. (Treasury, p. 75)
A younger son receives the blessing of the older son.
His mother clothes him with the clothes of his older brother.
His father smells the smell of the older brother upon him.
He receives the older son's blessing, while the older son receives what can only be called his curse.
And there we are; before our Father, clothed by our mother in the garments of our brother, smelling like him, and the blessing that is His is poured out upon us. The ultimate sweet swap (Schroeder), the blessed exchange that we read about earlier in the week from the Epistle to Diognetus:
Oh, the sweet exchange!
Oh, the incomprehensible handiwork of God!
Oh, the unlooked for kindness:
that, on the one hand, the lawlessness of the many be hidden in the Righteous One,
while, on the other hand, the righteousness of the One justify the many lawless. (Treasury, p. 75)
Patristic Quote of the Day
The Lord Jesus Christ came in the flesh, and, in the form of a servant, became obedient even to the death of the cross, Philippians 2:8 for no other reason than, by this dispensation of His most merciful grace, to give life to all those to whom, as engrafted members of His body, He becomes Head for laying hold upon the kingdom of heaven: to save, free, redeem, and enlighten them,— who had aforetime been involved in the death, infirmities, servitude, captivity, and darkness of sin, under the dominion of the devil, the author of sin: and thus to become the Mediator between God and man, by whom (after the enmity of our ungodly condition had been terminated by His gracious help) we might be reconciled to God unto eternal life, having been rescued from the eternal death which threatened such as us. - St. Augustine, *On Merit and the Forgiveness of Sins* I:39
Old Lutheran Quote of the Day
For that reason the ancients said that the devil has, so to speak, twin mirrors which he holds before a man. The first mirror is the minimizing mirror. With it he makes the sin quite small and insignificant. He holds this mirror up to a person when he wants to tempt a man into, to drive him towards, sin. The second mirror is the magnifying mirror. With it he makes the sin quite large and thick. He holds this mirror up to a person he has toppled into sin. With this trick the devil deceives very many people, so that they either commit sin against their conscience with great eagerness; or later despair in vexation over the sin. -- Blessed Johann Gerhard, *An Explanation* p. 147
On Ruling Sins
Here is a challenge to Lutheran preachers. Have we forgotten thesis XVIII of Walther's series?
In the fourteenth place, the Word of God is not rightly divided when the universal corruption of mankind is described in such a manner as to create the impression that even true believers are still under the spell of ruling sins and are sinning purposefully?
Have we forgotten what this means?
"A pilgrim travelling on a lonely road, when attacked by a highway man, escapes from him at the first opportunity. He does not want to be overcome and slain. Christians are pilgrims through this world on their way to heaven. The devil, like a highway robber, assaults them, and they go down before him because of their weakness, not because they meant to go down. To a true Christian his fall is forgiven because he turns to God in daily repentance with tears or at least heartfelt sighings for pardon. If a person allows sin to rule him, this is a sure a sign that he is not a Christian, but a hypocrite, no matter how pious he pretends to be...."
"You ought to form the resolution that, when the particular time for a pericope containing these texts arrives [these texts being Romans 8:13,13; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:5,6], you will expound them to your hearers and tell them that, as God lives, they will be damned if they live in this or that sin. If you only tell them that Christians remain sinners until they die, you will frequently be misunderstood. Some will lull themselves to sleep with the reflection that they are poor and frail human beings, but that they have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ - however, a lip faith." [Law & Gospel, pp. 320, 322]
Brothers, we betray our holy commission whenever we imply to our people that they may continue under grace while they willingly remain servants of sin. Our gracious Lord desires to "forgive us our sins" AND "to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
In the fourteenth place, the Word of God is not rightly divided when the universal corruption of mankind is described in such a manner as to create the impression that even true believers are still under the spell of ruling sins and are sinning purposefully?
Have we forgotten what this means?
"A pilgrim travelling on a lonely road, when attacked by a highway man, escapes from him at the first opportunity. He does not want to be overcome and slain. Christians are pilgrims through this world on their way to heaven. The devil, like a highway robber, assaults them, and they go down before him because of their weakness, not because they meant to go down. To a true Christian his fall is forgiven because he turns to God in daily repentance with tears or at least heartfelt sighings for pardon. If a person allows sin to rule him, this is a sure a sign that he is not a Christian, but a hypocrite, no matter how pious he pretends to be...."
"You ought to form the resolution that, when the particular time for a pericope containing these texts arrives [these texts being Romans 8:13,13; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:5,6], you will expound them to your hearers and tell them that, as God lives, they will be damned if they live in this or that sin. If you only tell them that Christians remain sinners until they die, you will frequently be misunderstood. Some will lull themselves to sleep with the reflection that they are poor and frail human beings, but that they have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ - however, a lip faith." [Law & Gospel, pp. 320, 322]
Brothers, we betray our holy commission whenever we imply to our people that they may continue under grace while they willingly remain servants of sin. Our gracious Lord desires to "forgive us our sins" AND "to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
13 March 2009
Thought from Matins
When we pray "thy will be done" we are not merely recognizing that all things come to us from the hand of God, but we are praying for the grace to accept all things from His hand as He would have us accept them, as gifts given from His heart of love and to be received lovingly by us. It's miles from fatalism; it is the triumph of faith.
Old Lutheran Quote of the Day
God the Lord created the first man so that he should be a temple and residence for the Holy Trinity. -- Blessed Johann Gerhard, *An Explanation* p. 132
Patristic Quote of the Day
Let us therefore give in and yield our assent to the authority of Holy Scripture, which knows not how either to be deceived or to deceive. -- St. Augustine, *On Merit and the Forgiveness of Sins* Book I:33
An Interesting Article
from the Orthodox side of the aisle - it was recently recommended reading on a list that I'm on as an antidote to the notion that of Orthodox liturgy as "timeless and unchanging." What I found particularly helpful was the reflection that the Sunday Eucharist, vital and indispensable as it is, cannot carry the whole weight - and thus the great importance of the Daily Office. I could not help but think how in our Lutheran circles this is the exact need which Treasury addresses and addresses in that flexible way that Meyendorff here calls for. Whereas we've seen a great renewal in our parishes in the centrality of the Eucharist (now more than at any point in our history in this country, I suspect), yet where is the daily office, the discipline of daily prayer? Of course, we have long since restored the Old Testament reading to the Divine Service, but the general problem of Biblical illiteracy blocking the apprehension of the hymnody certainly rings a bell, doesn't it? The observation by Bishop Nazarii is strikingly similar to the guiding principal of Vatican II: "But if worship is to accomplish all this, then all the faithful must participate in it directly, consciously, and actively" - a point which has long been near and dear to the heart of Lutherans. And as for "each priest his own typikon" - goodness, isn't that our problem indeed! In any case, highly recommended reading simply for contemplating about the strikingly parallel state of Lutheranism at many points:
Liturgical Path
Liturgical Path
12 March 2009
I'm so amazed
at how vast the world and how many things there are to experience. I've been youtubing and enjoying the music of the High Kings. I'd never heard of them before, but they had a beautiful setting of that Wild Mountain Thyme and that led to other pieces of music. Unbelievable. I'd love to attend one of their concerts and see them make this incredible music!
Here's Wild Mountain Thyme - the tune of which we sing Magnificat to here at St. Paul's. What is it about this piece of music that grabs at my throat each time I hear it?
Here's Wild Mountain Thyme - the tune of which we sing Magnificat to here at St. Paul's. What is it about this piece of music that grabs at my throat each time I hear it?
Since Randy and Paul
played along, I will too:
Book Confessions Meme
1. To mark your page you: use a bookmark, bend the page corner, leave the book open face down?
Depends on the book. If I own it and it's a novel, yes I bend the page corner. I usually use stick it notes in my other books.
2. Do you lend your books?
Yes, and yes they frequently wander off. It's part of the joy of books! Lee, where IS that Gerhard book???
3. You find an interesting passage: you write in your book or NO WRITING IN BOOKS!
I scribble all through books when I own them and find something of interest. I mark it so as to be able to find it again quickly.
4. Dust jackets - leave it on or take it off.
Off.
5. Hard cover, paperback, skip it and get the audio book?
I prefer hardcover (who doesn't?), but my budget usually suggests paperback and whenever possible (if it is a fiction work) I borrow from the library.
6. Do you shelve your books by subject, author, or size and color of the book spines?
What an odd question! I suppose loosely by subject or author. But mostly I just put them anywhere. Hunting up a book is part of book fun. Color and size? People really do that???
7. Buy it or borrow it from the library later?
Library for my murder mysteries usually; but for theological works or poetry books, I buy.
8. Do you put your name on your books - scribble your name in the cover, fancy bookplate, or stamp?
Usually scribble my name in the front.
9. Most of the books you own are rare and out of print books or recent publications?
I've got a mixture -- some old ones I prize. One German copy of True Christianity by Arndt that is quite old.
10. Page edges - deckled or straight?
What does deckled mean?
11. How many books do you read at one time?
I usually have several books of non-fiction going at once. If I am reading a novel (which I used to do all the time and now quite seldom get the chance to), all else is on hold until it is finished. I like to read them in "one sitting" and it drive my wife crazy.
12. Be honest, ever tear a page from a book?
I have by accident before, but certainly not intentionally.
Book Confessions Meme
1. To mark your page you: use a bookmark, bend the page corner, leave the book open face down?
Depends on the book. If I own it and it's a novel, yes I bend the page corner. I usually use stick it notes in my other books.
2. Do you lend your books?
Yes, and yes they frequently wander off. It's part of the joy of books! Lee, where IS that Gerhard book???
3. You find an interesting passage: you write in your book or NO WRITING IN BOOKS!
I scribble all through books when I own them and find something of interest. I mark it so as to be able to find it again quickly.
4. Dust jackets - leave it on or take it off.
Off.
5. Hard cover, paperback, skip it and get the audio book?
I prefer hardcover (who doesn't?), but my budget usually suggests paperback and whenever possible (if it is a fiction work) I borrow from the library.
6. Do you shelve your books by subject, author, or size and color of the book spines?
What an odd question! I suppose loosely by subject or author. But mostly I just put them anywhere. Hunting up a book is part of book fun. Color and size? People really do that???
7. Buy it or borrow it from the library later?
Library for my murder mysteries usually; but for theological works or poetry books, I buy.
8. Do you put your name on your books - scribble your name in the cover, fancy bookplate, or stamp?
Usually scribble my name in the front.
9. Most of the books you own are rare and out of print books or recent publications?
I've got a mixture -- some old ones I prize. One German copy of True Christianity by Arndt that is quite old.
10. Page edges - deckled or straight?
What does deckled mean?
11. How many books do you read at one time?
I usually have several books of non-fiction going at once. If I am reading a novel (which I used to do all the time and now quite seldom get the chance to), all else is on hold until it is finished. I like to read them in "one sitting" and it drive my wife crazy.
12. Be honest, ever tear a page from a book?
I have by accident before, but certainly not intentionally.
Aphorisms from Gerhard's Meditation XXVIII
Nothing is more fatal to godliness than procrastination.
To stand still in the way of the Lord is really to retrograde.
In thy conversation be pleasant to all, be harsh to none, and familiar with few.
God hath given Himself wholly to thee; do thou give thyself wholly to thy neighbor.
Keep thy body in subjection to thy mind; and thy mind to God.
The best life on earth is that which is wholly spent in serving others.
Be mindful of death, that thou mayest avoid sin.
Silence of the mouth is an excellent thing for peace of the heart.
Employ thy riches in benefactions to the poor.
Let Christ be the aim of thy life.
To stand still in the way of the Lord is really to retrograde.
In thy conversation be pleasant to all, be harsh to none, and familiar with few.
God hath given Himself wholly to thee; do thou give thyself wholly to thy neighbor.
Keep thy body in subjection to thy mind; and thy mind to God.
The best life on earth is that which is wholly spent in serving others.
Be mindful of death, that thou mayest avoid sin.
Silence of the mouth is an excellent thing for peace of the heart.
Employ thy riches in benefactions to the poor.
Let Christ be the aim of thy life.
Patristic Quote of the Day
Now there is much significance in that He does not say, The wrath of God shall come upon him, but abides on him. For from this wrath (in which we are all involved under sin, and of which the apostle says, For we too were once by nature the children of wrath, even as others Ephesians 2:3) nothing delivers us but the grace of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. -- St. Augustine, *On Merit and the Forgiveness of sins* chapter 29
Old Lutheran Quote of the Day
We read of an ancient father who, unable to endure temptation in a cloister, left it that he might in the wilderness serve God in peace. But in the desert one day his little water-jug overturned. He set it up, but it overturned a second time. Becoming enraged, he dashed the vessel into pieces. Then, saying within himself, "Since I cannot find peace when alone, the defect must be in myself," he returned to the cloister to suffer temptations from that time forward teaching that we must obtain the victory, not by fleeing worldly lusts, but by denying them. -- Blessed Martin Luther, Church Postil VI.121,122
11 March 2009
So I am told...
...that I must blog on this. SOME people seem to think it funny.
We had a bit of a storm last night. It blew over a portable basket-ball hoop in the parking lot beside the school. I looked out the window and saw that it had been knocked down by the wind and told the folks in the room: "Oh, look. The, um, um, well the thing you put the ball through has been knocked over!"
They all found this hysterically funny for some reason I cannot fathom. I just couldn't think of the word; that's all. It happens...
We had a bit of a storm last night. It blew over a portable basket-ball hoop in the parking lot beside the school. I looked out the window and saw that it had been knocked down by the wind and told the folks in the room: "Oh, look. The, um, um, well the thing you put the ball through has been knocked over!"
They all found this hysterically funny for some reason I cannot fathom. I just couldn't think of the word; that's all. It happens...
Old Lutheran Quote of the Day
Our repentance also takes place in weakness. Underneath it there is always imperfection. -- Blessed Johann Gerhard, *An Explanation* p. 123
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