Martin Luther on Christmas

Click on the link above to read an op-ed piece about Martin Luther and Christmas.

Advent and Christmas Devotions

I have put together a guide with suggested devotions for Advent and Christmas. Of course, after finishing that I found a guide that suggested reading through Isaiah during Advent (a wonderful exercise) and the rest of the prophets during Lent.

Here is also an article I found on the Origin of the Feast of Christmas.

Luke 1:1-38

*Note: Preceding each comment is the referenced verse(s) in [brackets].

[3] Much has been made about the "dedication" of this Gospel to "most excellent Theophilus." The Greek Theophilus means "lover of God." This title of course ties the Gospel of Luke to the Book of Acts (cf. Acts 1:1) as a two-volume work, but it also engages all of us, even today, who love God.

[4] With all of the hype surrounding the "other gospels" of Mary Magadlene and Judas these days, I think the author's words are rather timely: "so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed." In other words, St. Luke presumes previous instruction and engages us in the church's quest for truth.

[7] Elizabeth'’s barrenness recalls the many "“hopeful yet barren" women of the Old Testament. Look again at the story of Abraham and Sarah, of Rachel and Leah-and of Hannah, whose song becomes a model for Mary.

[13] This verse contains the first "“Do no be afraid!"” exclamation in Luke'’s gospel, a pattern which will be echoed throughout this gospel and the Scriptures (cf. v30 of Luke and the entire Book of Revelation).

[38] Mary's response is paradigmatic for all of us who strive to please God and do God's will: "Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word."” Mary shows us how to be the church.

Luke: Year C

In preparation for preaching and study on the Gospel According to St. Luke for year C of the Revised Common Lectionary, I hope to post occasional brief commentaries on portions of the Gospel.

I have also provided some links to online material on Luke on my teaching blog (title link above).

A few comments on some themes in the Gospel:

Holy Ghost Power: The Holy Spirit appears more active by name in this Gospel than in Matthew and Mark. [Of course, the Holy Spirit also has a prominent place in the Gospel of John.] It will be interesting to trace "the work of the Spirit" throughout the lectionary year, especially considering that Acts is "Luke: Volume II."

Salvation: I am intrigued by Jesus' words in Luke 19:9 to Zacchaeus: "Today salvation has come to this house." Much has been written about Luke's emphasis on the present-day presence of salvation in addition to its "end time" or "beyond death" significance. My suspicion is that Jesus is making a self-referential comment, something along the lines of: "Today, 'salvation-in-person' has come to this house."

Pony Express

So I was making my way through a stack of papers today and ran across a "Pony Express" Stewardship kit for sale. Disclaimer: I know very little about the scope and content of the Pony Express Stewardship program, simply that it was a "stewardship emphasis" program used in Lutheran churches in the last 20 years or so.

But it does make you wonder. Is "Pony Express" the best name for a congregational stewardship program? Do we really want to make our Christian giving like the post office's means of mail delivery almost 150 years ago?

Sunday breakfast

My normal practice on Sunday mornings is to eat breakfast early enough so that I will have a chance to fast at least one hour before receiving the Eucharist. Yesterday morning, breakfast was theological.

It began simply with coffee, calling to mind the joy and exuberance of the Psalmist as he declares his delight in the Lord.

I also had an egg, calling to mind the Easter victory and confession: "He is risen!" and Mary Magdalene's reception and announcement of this proclamation "early on the first day of the week." We may dye all our Easter eggs red this year in celebration of her witness. The egg was cooked in butter, calling to mind the richness of the Promised Land and of the New Heaven and New Earth.

I had toast, calling to mind the centrality of Bread in both testaments, particularly in the breaking of the bread in the Last Supper and in the Eucharist. And it was topped with apricot jelly, calling to mind Jesus' admonitions to "bear fruit" and the "fruits of the Spirit" in Galatians.

Never before has breakfast been so theological for me.

Jesus Christ Superstar

I saw Jesus Christ Superstar this past weekend. I'm still not sure what to make of this production overall, but I will comment on what did move me.

Mary's Song: Mary Magdalene's song I Don't Know How to Love Him brought to mind what I think is one of the central struggles of the Christian Faith: we often don't know how to love this One whom we worship. Later in the production, Judas picks up on this same line in his struggle to understand this enigmatic Messiah, a struggle that ultimately culminates in his betrayal.

Hosanna: The song Hosanna was used remarkably well, artistically and theologically. It marked Jesus' triumphal Jerusalem entry and returned in the form of a reprise (with more somber tones) during the Passion. Both elements are present, I think, when we pray the Sanctus as part of the Communion liturgy. And our cry--outside the Jerusalem gates, at the foot of the Cross, at the Banquet Table of the Lord--is the same: "Hosanna! Lord, save us!"

Crucifixion: The crucifixion scene was moving, especially considering that it forced the audience to focus intently on the Crucified Christ. Other modern portrayals of the Crucifixion seem filled with distractions. Here one could not help but gaze on the particular Jew from Nazareth, God the Son, in all his agony and glory.

Tearing Apart the Body of Christ

Yesterday I presided at the opening worship for the synod youth gathering at a nearby amusement park.

For our celebration of the Eucharist, we used a substantial loaf of bread, one that was very hard to tear apart at points. Following worship, my wife, who preached that day, commented that there was a lot of truth in that "difficult to tear" bread. Her exact words were, "The body of Christ should be hard to tear apart. There's a lesson in that." Wonderful, heavenly wisdom.

The Body of Christ in the Eucharist should be hard to tear apart, because it was broken for us in such a terrible way: on the Cross. The Body of Christ should be hard to tear apart, because it was given to us at so great a cost. The Body of Christ should be hard to tear apart, because God's work of redemption is excruciatingly difficult work.

But there are churchly dimensions to this "tearing apart" too. For we also confess that the communal, corporate reality of the Church is also the Body of Christ. And that should be hard to tear apart too. In the Eucharist we are given the visible presence of Christ himself, who pours out and is torn apart for us, the gathered Church, that in our life together as Brothers and Sisters in Christ we might manifest a communal life that is like the whole loaf, "bound together and finely woven in love," to quote a turn of phrase from Ken Medema.

I think there is also a word of judgment in this rending, insofar as we as Christians have become quite content and comfortable with our churchly divisions, to the point of almost rejoicing in them. The Body of Christ is not for us to rend. When we do, we participate in a tearing apart that is not the Lord's will for the Church (see John 17). The late Pope John Paul II has even written on this very topic.

Yes, the Body of Christ should indeed be hard to tear apart.

Post-September 11th World

So I went on a trip to the zoo today. Nothing out of the ordinary. But it gave me a chance to reflect on the little ways in which many of the ways we live life have changed since September 11th.

Every place now has a "disaster preparedness" plan--even for the most minor "event."

Take, for example, the zoo. Upon arrival, my family and I were quickly escorted into the gift shop and were informed that we had to stay there because "an animal was loose." Mind you, we hadn't really even entered the zoo proper yet.

Quickly, speculation as to which animal escaped filled the locked-down gift shop: a lion? a tiger? a bear? oh my!

A few minutes later, the zoo-police gave the "all clear." It seems that a bird had temporarily escaped. A bird. A bird. Locked down for a bird! Because, you see, I bet there was only one plan in the case of an escaped animals.

Such are the times in which we live.

ABBA and Abba: Mamma Mia! and the Gospel

Yesterday evening I saw the US tour of Mamma Mia, the Broadway production that weaves together hit music from the Swedish band ABBA into a story of a woman, about to be married, in search of her father.

The writers did a masterful job of weaving together the ABBA songs into the broader narrative. It was almost as if the songs were written to be a part of the play. Or was it that they knew the songs so well that they were able to craft the narrative around the songs themselves? Or both?

And during the musical, I got to thinking about the Gospel narratives. [I know, occupational hazard.] I was thinking about part of what the Gospel writers did, inspired by the Holy Spirit, was to weave together various Scriptural traditions that took on new meaning (or meaning that had been there all along) in light of the incarnation of Jesus Christ. They did interpretation and weaving, reordering all these disparate narratives under the broader narrative of the Advent of Messiah Jesus.

But which was it? Did the writers know the "original songs" (i.e., the Old Testament Scriptures) of Abba so well that they were able to weave them together in a coherent narrative, crafting the narrative around the songs themselves? Or was it that the "original songs" were in fact written to be part of the "master play" from the start? Or both.

I think Christians can lean toward the "for both" faithfully. After all, the Old Testament Scriptures have always been scripture for somebody. They remain Holy Scripture for both Christians and Jews. So it must be said that the "original songs" have a meaning and depth all their own, as "songs" with their own internal itegrity. But we as Christians must also say that these songs are "ordered," so to speak, and sung around the definitive center of the Christ event.

Mamma Mia!

Bringing it Home

One of the most difficult things after a gathering like this is finding ways to bring the gathering home. It is struggle to know how and what to communicate to those at home and how to share what has infused our lives.

In this regard, I have provided a few links below that I hope will help those at home share what we have experienced and will provide us who have been on this "Cruzando" journey a chance to continue our experience. Here are some links to explore:

Archived videos of each of the mass gatherings at the Alamodome.

Ken Medema's improvised songs inspire us to use our gifts for the Kingdom of God.

Photos from week one are updated daily.

A quick recap of the speakers and artists allow us to search for other works by an artist... whether it be through a book one has written or an album one has sung.

On another note, yesterday evening I had a wonderful conversaton with Dawn, Linda and Steve from SW Minnesota. It is wonderful to have these spirit-filled conversations as part of being here.

Saturday (Day 4): Jesus encounters us on the Frontier and in the Feast

A.M.
This morning we began again with worship at our hotel and then Bible study at the Alamodome. Our Bible study leader took a creative bent with the text... comparing us to Wildebeests at the water's edge. We heard how God "makes a way in the wilderness" (Isaiah 43:18-19) for us.

P.M.
This "wilderness" theme was picked up by Ken Medema in his workshop that afternoon. He began by having us sing a song with the refrain, "bound together and finely woven with love" and then shared his own autobiography, inviting us to share "wilderness" times in our lives. Many of the youth and adults came forward sharing their times of wilderness and struggle. Ken then wove these stories into song, "telling" them back to us with wonderful melodies. Here is a sampling of these songs. Check back in a few days to here the songs he sung back to us.

We took some time to play in the afternoon. A few of our adult leaders dressed up in monkey costumes.

Eve
We began the evening with our "Final 15" devotions... a chance to reflect upon the day and the theme and to talk about how God is working in our lives. It was a marvelous thing to hear how God has actively been shaping and challenging all gathered through word and song, through preaching and teaching, through those close to us and through complete strangers.

We then made out way to the Fiesta, an outdoor party in an historic village near the convention center. We sampled many Mexican foods and sang and danced until the closing fireworks. Then we were off to concerts and dances at nearby hotels.

Tomorrow we worship... 16,000 strong.
Late Eve

Friday (Day 3): Jesus encounters us in the Cross

Morning Gathering
This moring we heard from Jim Wallis, founder of the Sojourners community in Washington, DC. He challenged us to consider poverty as a moral value and to keep our hearts and minds attentive to God's concern for the poor... a theme that runs throughout Scripture.

Afternoon
In the afternoon we gathered at the convention center for a boxed lunch and then spent the afternoon attending various workshops and activities at the El Puente Interaction Center. I attended one on praying the Lord's Prayer in Aramaic and even got to learn some Middle Eastern dance. Others went to workshops for "girls only" and "guys only" as well as to hear musicians like Ken Medema weave stories into song.

Evening
In the evening Gathering we heard from Yessenia Vazquez, a young woman from Guatemala who escaped from an abusive family at home at age 15 and came to the US. Hers was a powerful story.

We also heard the story of Francis Bok, from the Sudan, who was abducted by slave traders at age 7 and lived as a slave for 10 years before escaping. He has detailed his journey from slavery to freedom in a book, Escape from Slavery.

Singer Ken Medema combined there stories in a wonderful song that echoed the "year of Jubilee" proclaimed in Leviticus, chapter 25.

Thursday Evening

New Orleans Witness
A few from out group decided to take the elevator at the "Texas needle," a 750-foot observation tower, and see the city from there. The view was breathtaking. On the way down the elevator we met a couple, and the guy was from New Orleans. After asking why we were here, they commented on how many Christians have been rebuilding New Orleans while sleeping in tents... all volunteers. Thanks be to God for the hands and feet swift to serve in the name of Jesus Christ, my Brothers and Sisters in Christ!

Donald Miller
It was refreshing to hear from Donald Miller last evening. He challenged all of us to drop notions of "3- (or 5-) step faith," faith that can be boiled down to "if you do these easy things, then God will..." He instead talked of God "fathering" us and caring for us a loving parent. I was thankful that he took the youth (and adults!) a step deeper with their faith.

Krystal Meyers
Krystal Meyers performed yesterday evening as well. I would describe her as Avril Levigne meets the Christian contemporary scene. I was a bit disappointed with her, however. She spent a bit too much time shamelessly promoting her new album. I was however amused by the situational irony of her invitation to the Gathering, "OK, everyone together shout, 'Anti-conformity'." :)

Inspired by Youth
The youth gathered here do inspire me, however. Some have no need of cell phones and iPods and are perfectly fine without them, thank you very much. Some put a very critical eye and ear to what they are hearing and seeing. I think youth can spot inauthenticity a mile a way... and that is refreshing. But I think perhaps the thing that inspires me the most are how they behave as Brothers and Sisters in Christ. For me this was captured in the words of a teenager I overheard after the dance at a nearby hotel yesterday evening. He said, "This is the most fun I have had in my 18 years of existence!" And I knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that this due largely to the fact that many here have created a community in which those normally shoved to the side are able to dance (literally and figuratively) along with the rest.

Fun with Tonto
So the latest craze [and I must admit it is a catchy song] at the dance scene is a song called, "Tonto, Jump On It." I think it is by Gang Sugarhill. Hilarious.

Thursday (Day 2): Jesus encounters us in our neighbor

We began the day with worship at our hotel. The theme for today is "Jesus encounters us in our projimo/a (neighbor)," based on the Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10. We gathered with our immediate hotel neighbors and then with a lot of other neighbors...

In our mass gathering at the Alamodome we heard variations on this theme from our Bible study leader, Rev. Stephen Bond, and our speaker, Dr. San Juana Mendoza Bruce. Both challenged us to see ourselves both in the role of the Good Samaritan who crosses boundaries to show Christ-like mercy and in the one beaten and left for dead in the road side who receives help from his neighbor.

This afternoon we have been attending workshops and having some time to explore the "Interaction Center" at the convention center, a panoply of games, booths, sports and learning experiences.

As a pastor, it is a true joy to watch faith be reawakened in so many youth.

And on a personal note, it has been fun to see friends and seminary classmates from South Carolina.

Opening "Mass Gathering"

The Gathering officially opened this evening with 14,000 youth converging on the Alamodome. Our speaker, Tony Campollo, gave the evening message--probably the high point of the first gathering.

The rest of the opening gathering was a little disappointing. As one of our youth commented: "It was more like a rock concert than worship... I can hear that stuff on the radio." I think he raised an important question: What makes this gathering--and our time here--distinctively Christian? [Truth be told, I am waiting with great hope to see the answer to this unfold in the days ahead. And while I think the opening session was disappointing for some, I for one, am glad to see youth hungering for something deeper in their time here.]

We concluded the evening with a dance at a nearby hotel and then evening devotions back at our hotel. Our group of 31 was pretty tired by day's end.

Riverwalking

Yesterday we "Riverwalked." The Riverwalk is a nice area just below street level here that is host a variety of stores, restaurants and more. I think it should be called the "Meandering Riverwalk," but that's just my $0.02.

There is something about water that I have always considered magical. 

I have always liked rivers, lakes, oceans...you name it. 

Seems like people have been living along water for a long time, mostly for practical reasons: we need water to live. It is literally our life blood.

So too for us as Christians.  We are people of the Red Sea and the Dead Sea, people of the Jordan River and Sea of Galilee, people in the boat of a the church sent on a journey "up river." I think one of the reasons I like water so much is because it makes me think of baptism. We died in the water and were given new life in those same waters: flowing water, living water... river water(?). And it is on this same baptismal river, the one that flows from the Tree of Life, that we make our whole Christian pilgrimage, our whole life's journey.

Arrived safely in Texas after

Arrived safely in Texas after a good but bumpy flight. May see fireworks tonight.

Gathering: A Verb

I love that the powers that be have retained the title "Gathering" for what the ELCA does each year at these things. Often it is described as "the Gathering," as in a noun, which is fine. However, I like to think of it more as a verb.

We gather, we assemble, we constitute the church as we gather as the church in San Antonio from all over the nation.

The word coined in the New Testament to describe the gathering of the church, indeed the church itself, is ekklesia, meaning "assembly." It is the same word used for public gatherings, such as a town meeting.

As we assemble from near and far and descend on this part of Texas, we do what Christians do best, we gather, we assemble as church. We are Tex-Ekk (Texas Ekklesia).

The Alamo

Much of Texas lore centers around a little place called "The Alamo" and a rallying cry: "Remember the Alamo!" Sadly, many of us do not remember the Alamo.
Of course, many of us are familiar with the picture and remember some of the brief contours of the struggle, but few of us could be a tour guide for someone looking for a bicycle in the basement of the Alamo.
So I have provided this link to a brief history of Alamo.

Bonus theological musing: I wonder if there is not a connection for Christians between the Cross and the Alamo. Both were symbols of defeat that became symbols of triumph. Perhaps our cry this week should be: "'Remember (Greek anamesis--a "living" remembering) the Cross!"

Departure and Arrival

This morning our caravan left for our San Antonio pilgrimage.

We are 26 youth and 4 adults, plus Capt. Ron Nabors, who arrived in Alamo-land yesterday.














We left Detroit metro airport via Northwest airlines this afternoon. The flight went well and we had a splendid aircraft and crew. It was a little bumpy and I was hit with a paper airplane, but all is well.













After arriving we got settled into our hotel... right on the Riverwalk.

Cruz-ing to San Antonio

Soon our youth group will depart for San Antonio for the national youth gathering of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The theme of this year's gathering is "Cruzando," Spanish for "crossing," with a play on words since "Cruz" is Spanish for "Cross."

There are many ways in which those "at home" can support and participate with those on the trip:

View photos from the official gathering HQ and ones uploaded by youth from their cell phones.

See streaming video of gathering venues, performances and worship.

Learn about the city of San Antonio where the gathering will take place.

Sign up to pray for the youth and adult leaders attending the gathering.

Learn about the various offerings that will be taken during the gathering and which ministries these offerings will support.

Pray our "sending prayer" during our time of travel:
Lord God our Father, you kept Abraham and Sarah in safety throughout the days of their pilgrimage, you led the children of Israel through the midst of the sea, and by a star you led the Wise Men to the infant Jesus. Protect and guide us now in this time as we set out to travel, make our ways safe and our homecomings joyful, and bring us at last to our heavenly home, where you dwell in glory with your Son and Holy Spirit, God forever. Amen.
(from Lutheran Book of Worship, p. 167 [Responsive Prayer 2]).

Neaniskos, the "New Guy": The Easter Sermon I Should Have Preached

Every once in a while (too often for me, I'm afraid) preachers get a strong sense--usually after a sermon--that it was not quite the sermon they should have preached on that particular day to this particular people. This Easter Sunday, I must confess, this happened to me.

Partly it was the exhaustion of the Three Days, partly it is the sheer weight of attempting to preach on Easter Sunday, partly it was not enough careful time spent with the text, partly it was an ambitious desire to preach all there was to preach on the "shorter ending" of the Gospel of Mark (i.e., 16:8).

So, in response to this, I offer you these brief reflections on the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark:

During your reading of the Passion According to St. Mark during Palm/Passion Sunday, who else noticed that naked guy in 14:51-52? Upon hearing the Passion according to St. Mark this year during worship I was struck by these strange verses about a guy running around in a linen burial shroud after the disciples deserted Jesus. As quickly as he enters the picture he disappears--or so it seems--for the rest of the Gospel.

What's up with the naked guy?

After these verses in chapter 14 we hear the moving story of the Passion, a narrative squarely focused on one Jew from Nazareth named Jesus. He suffers, is crucified, dies, is acclaimed "Son of God" by the centurion at the foot of the cross--and then is raised on the third day.

And who gets to announce the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus in the Gospel of Mark but the naked guy! Well, actually, it's "the new guy" (Greek neaniskos).

There is speculation that the entire Gospel of Mark was meant and written to be performed as a drama at the early Church's Easter Vigil rites. If so, this neaniskos plays a prominent role in the liturgy and the church. It is he who loses his burial shroud and runs away while Jesus Christ completes the work of his Passion and Resurrection. But it is this very same guy who, dressed in new digs (baptismal garments?) gets to announce our Lord's Resurrection: not the most faithful members, not the disciples, not even the women at the tomb, but neaniskos, the "new guy."

May all those new to the faith proclaim with Easter joy the triumph of Christ's death and resurrection to the faithful and to the rest of the world: ""Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you" (Mark 16:6-8).

[Note: Dr. Frederick A. Niedner of Valparaiso University was the first to point out this connection to me. I am thankful for this further explication at our synod assembly this past May.]

5 Easter and Mother's Day

As the Fifth Sunday of Easter approaches, here are some reflections on the national holiday of Mother's Day.

1. Mother’s Day is a relatively recent holiday, attributed to Julia Ward Howe, who began the holiday after the Civil War celebrating the inherent pacifism of mothers in her Mother's Day Proclamation (1870). In popular terms, the holiday is now a celebration of motherhood. The holiday was declared officially by some states beginning in 1912. In 1914 President Woodrow Wilson declared the first national Mother's Day. (This information courtesy of en.wikipedia.org.) What might it mean to be peacemakers in the name of our Lord Jesus?

2. A friend of mine who is a huge NASCAR fan tells me that this is the only weekend in the season without a NASCAR race, so that none of the drivers’ mothers lose their child in a crash on Mother’s Day. Perhaps this practice gives us a chance to mourn with all mothers who have lost a child through death at any age.

3. In Holy Scripture, mothers feature prominently. The most famous mother is Mary, Mother of our Lord, who nourished the Christ child in her womb and gave birth in a humble stable. In many parts of the church, Mary bears the title Theotokos: God-bearer. She is also known as “Mother of God.” This wonderful title has always been understood to be a word about Jesus Christ: that in addition to being truly divine, he was also truly human, born in the flesh, born of a woman.

4. The church throughout history has been described alternatively as our Mother (Have you ever heard the phrase “Mother Church”?) and the womb in which the Baptized are nourished in the Faith, particularly through the sacraments. How can the church, especially particular congregations, be communties where the faithful are nourished?

5. The Hebrew word for womb (raham) in its verb form means “to have compassion, to love deeply, to show mercy” (see Deuteronomy 13:17). What a wonderful thing: God has “womb-like” compassion for us!

Heaven and Earth: Valpo ILS

Earlier this week I attended the Institute for Liturgical Studies at Valparaiso University. It was an outstanding conference, not only for the speakers but for the worship and liturgy.

The worship space on campus is similarly impressive. I was particularly struck by something on the day I left. As I made my way from the small lower chapel near the labyrinth and ascended the stairs beneath the pulpit to the large worship space above, it occurred to me that this is how heaven meets earth in the Liturgy. Our "little liturgies" and celebrations down here occur beneath and in concert with the Grand Divine Liturgy of the Trinity "upstairs." Our celebration is as much a "foretaste of the Feast" as it is "celebrating in the basement." It was marvelous to ascend those stairs.

Sabbath Rest

I was thinking again about Marva Dawn's book Keeping the Sabbath Wholly: Ceasing, Resting, Embracing, Feasting (Eerdmans, 1989) and reflecting on how terribly we keep that sabbath commandment as Christians in our culture.

Having just finished the season of Lent, I am wondering out loud how to recover "sabbath keeping" as Christian communal discipline. Like fasting, it is better kept (and best kept?) as a community in Christ.

What would it mean for our common life together (see the Acts reading (4:32-35) from Sunday) to keep the Sabbath? How might we be shaped differently by a communal commitment--shaped and driven of course by the Holy Spirit--to the Sabbath?

Triduum Part III: Easter Morning

I hope to post some thoughts on the Vigil celebration soon, but for now I hope these words from a sermon by St. John Chrysostom will suffice:

The Easter Sermon of John Chrysostom
[excerpt]

Is there anyone who is a devout lover of God?
Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival!
Is there anyone who is a grateful servant?
Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!

Are there any weary with fasting?
Let them now receive their wages!
If any have toiled from the first hour,
let them receive their due reward;
If any have come after the third hour,
let him with gratitude join in the Feast!
And he that arrived after the sixth hour,
let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss.
And if any delayed until the ninth hour,
let him not hesitate; but let him come too.
And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour,
let him not be afraid by reason of his delay.

For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first.
He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour,
as well as to him that toiled from the first.
To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows.
He accepts the works as He greets the endeavor.
The deed He honors and the intention He commends.

Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord!
First and last alike receive your reward;
rich and poor, rejoice together!
Sober and slothful, celebrate the day!

You that have kept the fast, and you that have not,
rejoice today for the Table is richly laden!
Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one.
Let no one go away hungry. Partake, all, of the cup of faith.
Enjoy all the riches of His goodness!

Let no one grieve at his poverty,
for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again;
for forgiveness has risen from the grave.
Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free.
He has destroyed it by enduring it.

He destroyed Hades when He descended into it.
He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh.
Isaiah foretold this when he said,
"You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below."

Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with.
It was in an uproar because it is mocked.
It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed.
It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated.
It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive.
Hell took a body, and discovered God.
It took earth, and encountered Heaven.
It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.
O death, where is thy sting?
O Hades, where is thy victory?

Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!
Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down!
Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is Risen, and life is liberated!
Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead;
for Christ having risen from the dead,
is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!

This version rendered in stanza format by Dn. Mark Baker.

Triduum Part II: Good Friday

A kiss on the cross--what a strange thing! Or is it?

For weeks I had noticed a smudge or something on our golden processional cross that stood front and center in the chancel during Lent. But there was this smudge on it. It kind of bothered me: What is that?

But then I looked closer. The smudge on the beautiful golden cross was in the shape of lips. Someone had kissed the cross and left a mark.

What adoration! What devotion! What a remarkable way to mark Lent, Holy Week, the Great Three Days and the glory of Easter!

Or, from the Good Friday liturgy: "Behold the life-giving cross upon which was hung the salvation of the world!"

Triduum Part I: Maundy Thursday

Two parts of the service today were especially moving to me as Presider.

1. As I laid my hands on the heads of many members and pronounced to each of them individually the words of absolution, it struck me that THIS is one of the places where heaven meets earth. Through this simple gesture, here on earth, the church participates in the divine economy and bestows God's very own grace. No wonder Martin Luther included "Confession and Absolution" in some of his "lists" of sacraments.

2. As my colleague Dave stooped to wash my feet after his sermon, I was humbly thankful for this calling, but most of all for our Lord Jesus who stoops down to wash us in the waters of Holy Baptism.

It's going to be a beautifully long three days, I'm afraid.

And this one's for fun. In a senior/associate pastor ministry situation, is it appropriate to refer to the senior pastor as the "Prime Minister"? :)

Pre-Packaged Communion

It was probably inevitable: pre-packaged all-in-one individual "communion" packets. See, for example this one called Remembrance(R). One arrived during this Holy Week at our congregation.

Do I have to begin with the Top Ten Reasons Why Pre-Packaged Communion is a bad idea?

10. The packaging is disposable, not a very fitting vessel for our Lord's Body and Blood.

9. It is "convenient" and "efficient." A celebration of Holy Communion should be neither.

8. It allows for a celebration in which neither of the elements need touch a human hand.

7. Its very "individuality" betrays a central part of the Sacrament: its communal nature.

6. Looks cheap.

5. Reminds me of a Holy Happy Meal.

4. Do we really need to be creating more plastic petroleum byproducts?

3. What if you bring four of these for a visit and the neighbor shows up?

2. It trivializes and mocks the Sacrament.

1. It is three steps back (or thirty) for the unity of the church.

For another view, here is our denomination's sacramental practices statement. See part III.

Princeton Proposal for Christian Unity

I am intrigued--not to mentioned mostly convinced--by the argument that present-day divisions of the church are, in fact, sin. A more complete explanation of this, as well as some direction for the future of ecumenism in the church, can be found in the
Princeton Proposal for Christian Unity.

Another good place to begin if you are interested in ecumenism is with the World Council of Churches' Baptism, Eucharist, Ministry document.

Gospel of Judas

Rather than comment at length on the recent furor over the "Gospel of Judas," I thought I would provide two links that I found helpful: by Mark Roberts and Ben Witherington.

When the Da Vinci Code craze hit a few years ago, something puzzled me that puzzles me still today: Why are so many so eager to read books from works entitled The Other Bible or extra-canonical gospels (such as The Gospel of Mary Magadalene), rather than dwelling deeply, passionately and patiently with the canonical gospels? There is enough in the Gospel of John to occupy even the most brilliant mind for a lifetime.

Washing Hands

For this Palm Sunday my colleague told the Passion according to St. Mark, which he had memorized. It was very moving to "hear" the Passion in this way, rather than simply hearing it read.

What struck me most, however, was a line from the Gospel of Matthew (27:24): "So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, 'I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves.'" This is the line in the Passion narrative that settled in my heart and mind as I washed my hands before presiding at the Eucharist.

Even as I prepare to life the cup and the host, my hands are indeed stained with the Blood of Christ.

Blessed to be a Blessing

While distibuting Holy Communion this morning I was given a blessing. When I knelt down to give a blessing and mark the sign of the cross on the forehead of one of our young members, he blessed me back! Tracing the sign of the cross on my forehead he said, "Almighty God bless you now and forever." Very moving. It is not too often that pastors are given blessings.

Flannery O'Connor on Faith and Doubt

"What people don't realize is how much religion costs. They think faith is a big electric blanket, when of course it is the cross. It is murch harder to believe than to not believe." -Flannery O'Connor in The Habit of Being

At the heart of the Christian Faith is the claim that a Jew from Nazareth, God the Son, died a brutal and horrible death and was raised, is alive and Lord of all creation. That is a lot to chew on. I think that is why we get 13+ weeks (Lent and the Season of Easter) to dwell on the mystery of the Passion and the Resurrection.

I like the way O'Connor puts it: Faith is not a big electric blanket but the Cross. Faith is not "what warms me up" or even "what fills me up" (though faith does have a habit of doing the latter--but often in the least-expected ways), faith is always centered and fixed on the Cross of Christ, "upon which was hung the salvation of the world." Like God calling Moses out of the burning bush, God beckons us still today: "Look here!" +

Easter Vigil

I am excited that the congregation I serve will be celebrating the Easter Vigil for the first time this year. It is a wonderful service that captures the mystery and wonder of Holy Saturday and the victory of Christ. To top it off, there will even be a baptism!