This afternoon while mowing the lawn I listened to Fr. Tom Hopko's podcast ("Great and Holy Week - Part 1), a magnificent treatment of Christ as the Bridegroom and the Church/Israel as his Bride.
In particular, I was struck by his statement that at the Wedding Feast of our Lord, Jesus Christ is our host, our garment (we wear him and are clothed with him in Baptism), and our meal (the Paschal lamb). What a wonderful description as we in the West continue the celebrate the Great 50 Days of Easter and the East celebrates Great and Holy Week.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Sunday, April 13, 2008
New Format for Weekly Devotions
Following Holy Trinity Sunday (May 18, 2008), we will be experimenting with using this format for our weekly devotions.
In the sidebar you will find:
+links to the daily readings
+weekly Psalms
+helpful links for exploring the lectionary Bible readings
+other Bible study resources.
This new format will also allow access to archived devotions.
In the sidebar you will find:
+links to the daily readings
+weekly Psalms
+helpful links for exploring the lectionary Bible readings
+other Bible study resources.
This new format will also allow access to archived devotions.
Thinking Ahead: Next Year's Easter Vigil
One of the occupational hazards of being a pastor is that you sometimes know which dates are Sundays several months out or, as in my case today, what the date is for Easter next year.
For those planning next year's Easter Vigil, sunset this time of year is 8:11 pm or so in these parts, so an 8 pm or 9 pm starting time (or later) would be appropriate.
A blessed Good Shepherd Sunday to you all!
For those planning next year's Easter Vigil, sunset this time of year is 8:11 pm or so in these parts, so an 8 pm or 9 pm starting time (or later) would be appropriate.
A blessed Good Shepherd Sunday to you all!
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Daily Lectionary ELW (pp. 1121-1153)
There has been some debate over the choice for a daily lectionary for ELW. Some prefer the two-year lectionary based on the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer, which appeared in LBW. The chief advantage here, I think, is not only reading a significant portion of the Bible in two years (including all of the New Testament), but also reading in communion with other Christians (besides Lutherans).
However, others see great value in the current two-year lectionary in ELW, with its pattern of Monday-Wednesday as reflecting on the previous Sunday and Thursday-Saturday as preparing for the coming Sunday. Sunday is, without question, the day for Christians, and this pattern again emphasizes its centrality.
Marva Dawn has also helped me to see this second pattern (the one adopted by ELW) in light of the Sabbath. She writes, "We spend three days getting ready (preparing for the bride) and three days afterward remembering it (the delight of the wedding)" and "The more persistently we practice the discipline of preparing for the Sabbath in the three days preceding it, and the more thoroughly we enjoy its benefits in the three days following it, the more delightfully restful the Sabbath itself will be for us in its actual practice--as well as in its anticipation and remembrance as these transform the entire week" (Marva J. Dawn, Morning by Morning, p. 79, quoting Keeping the Sabbath Wholly (also Marva Dawn), pp. 48-50, 53-54).
Augsburg Fortress has published a nice devotional booklet (Bread for the Day 2008) based on this daily lectionary with hymn suggestions from ELW for each day.
However, others see great value in the current two-year lectionary in ELW, with its pattern of Monday-Wednesday as reflecting on the previous Sunday and Thursday-Saturday as preparing for the coming Sunday. Sunday is, without question, the day for Christians, and this pattern again emphasizes its centrality.
Marva Dawn has also helped me to see this second pattern (the one adopted by ELW) in light of the Sabbath. She writes, "We spend three days getting ready (preparing for the bride) and three days afterward remembering it (the delight of the wedding)" and "The more persistently we practice the discipline of preparing for the Sabbath in the three days preceding it, and the more thoroughly we enjoy its benefits in the three days following it, the more delightfully restful the Sabbath itself will be for us in its actual practice--as well as in its anticipation and remembrance as these transform the entire week" (Marva J. Dawn, Morning by Morning, p. 79, quoting Keeping the Sabbath Wholly (also Marva Dawn), pp. 48-50, 53-54).
Augsburg Fortress has published a nice devotional booklet (Bread for the Day 2008) based on this daily lectionary with hymn suggestions from ELW for each day.
Resurrection according to St. John
“Supposing him to be the gardener.” This is how Mary first encounters the risen Jesus. The word here means both “thinking/supposing” and “recognizing.” It is in this first Resurrection encounter that Jesus is revealed not just as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29), but as Gardener, the Gardener. Mary gets it right: the One who formed the whole creation and begins the story of the world in the Garden (of Eden), suffers in the Garden (of Gethsemane), and now begins his new creation, just outside the hole of death, in a Garden.
There are more connections to the first chapters of Genesis. Just as the old Adam fell by way of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, the new Adam (Christ) is lifted up and brings salvation by the Tree of Life, which is the Cross, so that "he [i.e., satan] who once by a tree overcame might be a tree be overcome" (from Passion week Communion prayer). The Resurrection begins the grand reversal of the Fall. Paradise is reopened.
Even Peter is rehabilitated. He who by a charcoal fire (18:18) denies the Lord Jesus three times is given the chance to say "I love you" three times, again by a charcoal fire (21:9).
Read through John's entire Gospel this week, looking for Old Testament connections as you go. "Search the Scriptures!" (5:39)
There are more connections to the first chapters of Genesis. Just as the old Adam fell by way of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, the new Adam (Christ) is lifted up and brings salvation by the Tree of Life, which is the Cross, so that "he [i.e., satan] who once by a tree overcame might be a tree be overcome" (from Passion week Communion prayer). The Resurrection begins the grand reversal of the Fall. Paradise is reopened.
Even Peter is rehabilitated. He who by a charcoal fire (18:18) denies the Lord Jesus three times is given the chance to say "I love you" three times, again by a charcoal fire (21:9).
Read through John's entire Gospel this week, looking for Old Testament connections as you go. "Search the Scriptures!" (5:39)
Resurrection according to St. Luke
Cracking open the Scriptures, cracking open the Bread. That is how the risen Jesus is revealed to his disciples as Luke's Gospel comes to a close. Jesus breaks open the Scriptures and reveals himself to the disciples in the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms. Jesus breaks bread with the disciples and in that very act they recognize Him.
Of course, the last chapters of Luke are not the end of the story. Luke is a two-volume work, with the Book of Acts being the sequel. Early in Acts (Luke II), we find the Church devoting itself to the Apostles' teaching, the fellowship (the community of the Church), the breaking of bread (Holy Communion) and the prayers (for the church and the world). Sounds a lot like Christian worship.
Still today our Risen Lord comes to us in the breaking open of the Scriptures as we read from them and hear them proclaimed. Still today our Risen Lord comes to us in the breaking of the Bread, as He becomes Bread for us (cf. John 6) in the Meal of Holy Communion. As the Easter hymn beckons us, "Let us rise and keep the Feast!"
Of course, the last chapters of Luke are not the end of the story. Luke is a two-volume work, with the Book of Acts being the sequel. Early in Acts (Luke II), we find the Church devoting itself to the Apostles' teaching, the fellowship (the community of the Church), the breaking of bread (Holy Communion) and the prayers (for the church and the world). Sounds a lot like Christian worship.
Still today our Risen Lord comes to us in the breaking open of the Scriptures as we read from them and hear them proclaimed. Still today our Risen Lord comes to us in the breaking of the Bread, as He becomes Bread for us (cf. John 6) in the Meal of Holy Communion. As the Easter hymn beckons us, "Let us rise and keep the Feast!"
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