Wednesday of Holy Week

 

Wednesday of Holy Week

Collect of the Day

Merciful and everlasting God, You did not spare Your only Son but delivered Him up for us all to bear our sins on the cross. Grant that our hearts may be so fixed with steadfast faith in Him that we fear not the power of sin, death, and the devil; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 

Hymn of the Day

LSB 425/426 When I survey the wondrous cross

1 When I survey the wondrous cross

On which the Prince of Glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss

And pour contempt on all my pride.

2 Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast

Save in the death of Christ, my God;

All the vain things that charm me most,

I sacrifice them to His blood.

3 See, from His head, His hands, His feet,

Sorrow and love flow mingled down!

Did e'er such love and sorrow meet

Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

4 Were the whole realm of nature mine,

That were a tribute far too small;

Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all!

Verse

John 12:23b

The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

 

Introit

Psalm 56:1–4a; antiphon: v. 11

In God I trust; I shall not be afraid.

            What can man do to me?

Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me;

            all day long an attacker oppresses me;

my enemies trample on me all day long,

            for many attack me proudly.

When I am afraid,

            I put my trust in you.

In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust;

            I shall not be afraid.

In God I trust; I shall not be afraid.

            What can man do to me?

Gradual

Hebrews 9:12a, c, 15a; Psalm 111:9a

 

[Christ] entered once for all into the holy places, by means of his own blood,

                thus securing an eternal redemption.

Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant,

                so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.

He sent redemption to his people;

                he has commanded his covenant forever.

 

Content from Lutheran Service Book: Altar Book copyright © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.

Tuesday of Holy Week

 

Tuesday in Holy Week

Collect of the Day

Almighty and everlasting God, grant us by Your grace so to pass through this holy time of our Lord’s passion that we may obtain the forgiveness of our sins; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Hymn of the Day

LSB 708 Lord, Thee I love with all my heart
 
1 Lord, Thee I love with all my heart;
I pray Thee, ne'er from me depart,
With tender mercy cheer me.
Earth has no pleasure I would share,
Yea, heav'n itself were void and bare
If Thou, Lord, wert not near me.
And should my heart for sorrow break,
My trust in Thee can nothing shake.
Thou art the portion I have sought;
Thy precious blood my soul has bought.
Lord Jesus Christ, My God and Lord, my God and Lord,
Forsake me not! I trust Thy Word.

 

2 Yea, Lord, 'twas Thy rich bounty gave
My body, soul, and all I have
In this poor life of labor.
Lord, grant that I in ev'ry place
May glorify Thy lavish grace
And help and serve my neighbor.
Let no false doctrine me beguile;
And Satan not my soul defile.
Give strength and patience unto me
To bear my cross and follow Thee.
Lord Jesus Christ, My God and Lord, my God and Lord,
In death Thy comfort still afford.

 

3 Lord, let at last Thine angels come,
To Abram's bosom bear me home,
That I may die unfearing;
And in its narrow chamber keep
My body safe in peaceful sleep
Until Thy reappearing.
And then from death awaken me,
That these mine eyes with joy may see,
O Son of God, Thy glorious face,
My Savior and my fount of grace.
Lord Jesus Christ, my prayer attend, my prayer attend,
And I will praise Thee without end.

 

Verse

John 12:23b

The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

 

Introit

Psalm 42:3, 9–10; antiphon: vv. 5–6a

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?

                Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

My tears have been my food day and night,

                while they say to me continually, “Where is your God?”

I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me?

                Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”

As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me,

                while they say to me continually, “Where is your God?”

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?

                Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

 

 

Content from Lutheran Service Book: Altar Book copyright © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.

Monday in Holy Week

 

Monday in Holy Week

 

Collect of the Day

Almighty God, grant that in the midst of our failures and weaknesses we may be restored through the passion and intercession of Your only-begotten Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 

Hymn of the Day

LSB 434 Lamb of God, pure and holy

Lamb of God, pure and holy,
Who on the cross didst suffer,
Ever patient and lowly,
Thyself to scorn didst offer.
All sins Thou borest for us,
Else had despair reigned o'er us:
Have mercy on us,
O Jesus!  O Jesus!

Lamb of God, pure and holy,
Who on the cross didst suffer,
Ever patient and lowly,
Thyself to scorn didst offer.
All sins Thou borest for us,
Else had despair reigned o'er us:
Have mercy on us,
O Jesus!  O Jesus!

Lamb of God, pure and holy,
Who on the cross didst suffer,
Ever patient and lowly,
Thyself to scorn didst offer.
All sins Thou borest for us,
Else had despair reigned o'er us:
Thy peace be with us,
O Jesus!  O Jesus!

The text is public domain:

The name "Lamb of God" comes from the two citations from John 1, although Jesus is also compared to a lamb in Isaiah 53 and 1 Peter 1.

"Ever patient and lowly, / Thyself to scorn didst offer" paraphrases Isaiah 53:7 (just without the specific imagery), and the redemption mentioned in John 1:29, Isaiah 53, and 1 Peter 1 appears in the hymn as "All sins Thou borest for us."

Jesus' peace in John 14 appears at the very end: "Thy peace be with us, / O Jesus!"

Verse

John 12:23b

The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 

Introit

Psalm 31:10–11, 13–15; antiphon: v. 9

Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;

                my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also.

For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing;

                my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away.

Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach, especially to my neighbors, and an object of dread to my acquaintances;

                those who see me in the street flee from me.

For I hear the whispering of many—terror on every side!—

                as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life.

But I trust in you, O Lord;

                I say, “You are my God.”

My times are in your hand;

                rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!

Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;

                my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also.

Content from Lutheran Service Book: Altar Book copyright © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.

Palm Sunday

 

Today is Palm Sunday. The first day of what is traditionally known as “Holy Week” or “Passion Week” During this week we will walk with the Savior, observing His Passion. As He approached Jerusalem coming to the Mount of Olives Jesus presents Himself as the Prince of Peace. While many received Him on that day as their royal King, most will reject this prince and His kingdom. This prince will pay the ultimate price for the peace of the world. And for the peace from above. And for our salvation.

The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. Lazarus, who had been dead, was raised to life.

So, the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.” The world has gone after Him. Or, is it the other way around? Have wayward children gone after the world?

As we review Jesus’ approach to the city, a beast of burden carries our Lord who Himself will carry the burden of the world’s sin –

The Son of Man the Prince of peace appeared on that first Palm Sunday to offer Himself for the life of the world. Today we offer our praise and we journey with Him as He offers up Himself for the sin of all and for your salvation and life.

Palm Sunday images by Ed Riojas, copyright Higher Things

Saturday prior to Palm Sunday

[1]

Matthew 21:16 – This verse is the inspiration for the hymn, “All Glory Laud and Honor” {LSB #442} This verse is a quotation from Psalm 8. Infants and children give thanks and praise to the Savior. As Palm Sunday looms a host of Old Testament scriptures will be fulfilled by Jesus’ Passion.  Christ is the fulfillment of all Old Testament prophecy. He is the center of the book of books, the Bible. 

he first Palm Sunday was a mob scene. Jesus, riding a borrowed donkey, no weapons, no army, entered Roman-occupied Jerusalem with thousands of other Jews to celebrate Passover. By the end of the week, the people waving palm branches and crying “Hosanna” (“save us!”) would call for his death on a Roman cross. His closest friends would keep their distance or outright deny knowing him.

Every year, Christians around the world recount the events of Holy Week and Easter through our hymns. And, every Palm Sunday we stand, waving branches, to sing  “ALL GLORY, LAUD AND HONOR,” words penned in a prison tower by a man of faith who kept his equilibrium, though the wheel of fortune had turned, taking him from venerated to vilified.

THEODULPH’S SONG OF PRAISE

Theodulph, Bishop of Orléans, (c. 750-821) had been a celebrated poet in Charlemagne’s court during a period of medieval renaissance. Widely hailed as a friend of the poor, he helped institute a number of enlightened reforms and, with a nod from the emperor, built public schools.

After Charlemagne’s death, Louis the Pious inherited the throne. Petty and paranoid, he had many people rounded up and held captive, including Theodulph.

Walls and locks cannot confine creativity or faith. Theodulph, the condemned poet, continued to write, including these words of praise in Latin, “Gloria, laus et honor tibi sit, Rex Christe, Redemptor.”

According to the legend, on Palm Sunday in the year 820, when the paranoid emperor passed by the prison tower in a procession of palm-wavers, Theodulph stood at his window and loudly sang.

All glory, laud and honor
to you, Redeemer, King,
to whom the lips of children
made sweet hosannas ring.
The people of the Hebrews
with palms before you went;
our praise and prayer and anthems
before you we present.[2]

 

Collect for Saturday of the week of Lent 5: God our Father, you always work to save us, and now we  rejoice in the great love you give to your chosen people. Protect all who are about to become your children, and continue to bless those who are already baptized. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen [3]

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[1] Palm Sunday Images, © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

[2]http://askherabouthymn.com/what-palm-sunday-favorite-was-written-by-an-imprisoned-poet

[3] Collect for Saturday of the week of Lent 5, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. III © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY

Friday prior to Palm Sunday

[1]

Psalm 118:19-28 The Psalm appointed for this coming Sunday. This section seems to be the answer and a great thanksgiving song, which echoes the “Give thanks” of verse 1, the “answered …me” of verse 5 and the testimony of verse 14.  

Psalm 118 – The Chief Cornerstone

Psalm 118 does not name an author in its title, but there is reason to believe it was King David, the Sweet Psalmist of Israel. Ezra 3:10-11 suggests that Psalm 118 was sung at the founding of the second temple, and when they sang it, they attributed it to David (“according to the ordinance of David king of Israel,” Ezra 3:10).

Most probably, David was the author of this psalm…. It partakes of David’s spirit, and everywhere shows the hand of a master. The style is grand and noble; the subject, majestic.

Though this was likely David’s psalm, it was also Jesus’ psalm. “This is pre-eminently the triumph song of the Christ, He the ideal Servant, He the perfect Priest, He the Leader of the people. How much all these words meant to Him as He sang them on that night in the upper room.”

Though this was likely David’s psalm, it was also Luther’s psalm. “This is my own beloved psalm. Although the entire Psalter and all of Holy Scripture are dear to me as my only comfort and source of life, I fell in love with this psalm especially. Therefore, I call it my own. When emperors and kings, the wise and the learned and even saints could not aid me, this psalm proved a friend and helped me out of many great troubles. As a result, it is dearer to me than all the wealth, honor, and power of the pope, the Turk, and the emperor. I would be most unwilling to trade this psalm for all of it.” (Martin Luther)[2]

Collect for Psalm 118: Lord God, your Son, rejected by the builders, has become the cornerstone of the Church. Shed rays of your glory upon your Church, that it may be seen as the gate of salvation open to all nations. Let cries of joy and exultation ring out from its courts to celebrate the wonder of Christ’s resurrection, now and forever. Amen [3]

Collect for Friday of the week of Lent 5: Grant us your forgiveness, and set us free from our enslavement to sin. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen [4]

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[1] Palm Sunday Images, © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

[2]https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/psalm-118

[3] Collect for Psalm 118, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. III © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY

[4] Ibid, Collect for Friday of the week of Lent 5

 

Thursday prior to Psalm Sunday Psalm

[1]

John 12:20-43 – In the Gospel lesson Jesus suffers the death of the cross as we view the history of Jesus’ passion. The cross of Christ produces a response. It is not an ordinary death, which might cause only sympathy. There is a positive response by those with at least neutral eyes as expressed by a professional soldier, “Truly this was the Son of God.”

Jesus knew how awful His death would be but He also knew that it was His purpose and so rather than forgo it, rather than ask the Father to save Him from crucifixion, He chose to glorify Him. It is not a sin to feel the angst and difficulty of the sacrifices made for God. It is in remembering their purpose that we can go through it. That is how Jesus managed it. He took His eyes off Himself and put them on the big picture of God’s purpose, which is God’s glory.  And the Father answered Jesus so that everyone could hear! “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” God was glorified in Jesus birth and life and He would be glorified in His death and resurrection. It wasn’t Jesus who needed the audible comfort. It was the listeners. Jesus continued teaching in verses 31-33.

“Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die.”[2]

Collect for Thursday of the week of Lent 5: Lord, come to us; free us from the stain of our sins. Help us to remain faithful to a holy way of life, and guide us to the inheritance you have promised. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. [3]

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[1] Palm Sunday Images, © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

[2]https://www.donnalcampbell.com/salt--light-devotionals/john-1220-43-jesus-died-publicly-for-you-will-you-live-publicly-for-him

[3] Collect for Thursday of the week of Lent 5, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. III © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY 

 

Wednesday prior to Palm Sunday

 

[1]

Philippians 2:5-11 - In our Epistle lesson we learn that as an obedient servant Jesus humbles Himself to die on a cross. As He humbles Himself even to death, God exalts Him.  Because Jesus came down to the humiliation of the cross, Jesus was raised in exaltation. There are two sides of a coin. Jesus taught that He who humbles himself would be exalted, and the reverse applies. During Holy Week, we watch Jesus stooping to the lowest level by dying a criminal’s most horrible death and on Easter He is raised to glory. His exaltation will not be complete until every knee shall bow and every tongue confesses Him as Lord.   

“Let the same mind be in you…”

Paul incorporates this hymn into his letter in the service of pastoral theology. He is thankful for the Philippians’ care for him and support of his ministry (1:3-8), yet there are some problems in the community. In particular, Paul is concerned about dissension among members (2:2-4; 4:2-3), and about “opponents” who preach righteousness based on circumcision and law observance (1:28; 3:2-3, 7-11, 18-19). Paul urges the Philippians to live “in a manner worthy of the gospel” so that he will know that they are “standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel” (1:27).[2]

Collect for Wednesday of the week of lent 5: Father of mercy, hear the prayers of your repentant children who call on your in love. Enlighten our minds and sanctify our hearts. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. [3] Amen

Collect for the Annunciation of our Lord (March 25): O Lord, as we have known the incarnation of Your Son, Jesus Christ, by the message of the angel to the virgin Mary, so by the message of His cross and passion bring us to the glory of His resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.

[1] Palm Sunday Images, © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

[2]https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/name-of-jesus/commentary-on-philippians-25-11-2

[3] Collect for Wednesday of Lent 5 and the Annunciation of our Lord Lutheran Service Book copyright 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis 

Tuesday prior to Palm Sunday

[1]

Isaiah 50:4-9a- In the Old Testament lesson God’s servant suffers willingly because of his trust in God. God’s servant faces suffering confident of God’s help.  The suffering of the Messiah was not only physical but also mental and emotional. This may be a worse form of hurt – hurt feelings. The Servant as a faithful follower of God endures shameful treatment. His enemies pull out his beard and spit in His face. Jesus endures this form of suffering: the soldiers dressed him as a king, the superscription above His head, crucified between two criminals, exposed naked before a crowd, taunted and mocked: “If you are the Son of God…” 

“The Lord Yahweh has given me the tongue of those who are taught (a disciple or learned person), that I may know how to sustain with words him who is weary“(v. 4a). This is the voice of the Servant—in this instance, apparently the prophet. It can hardly be the nation Israel here, because it is Israel who is weary and needs sustaining. Also, these verses describe a kind of faithful discipleship that does not describe Israel in this time.

The phrase, “The Lord Yahweh” four times in these verses (vv. 4, 5, 7, 9). In each instance, the Lord God enables the Servant—”has given me a tongue” (v. 4), “has opened my ear” (v. 5), “will help me” (v. 7), “will help me” (v. 9). Not only does “the Lord Yahweh” empower the Servant, but these references serve to authenticate the Servant’s work.

The Lord God has given the Servant the tongue of a teacher (or a disciple or a learned person). This suggests that there has been an ongoing communication between God and the Servant—with God conveying wisdom and the Servant listening, as good disciples do, to absorb every syllable. Without having listened to God, the Servant would have nothing to say to his weary people. Having listened, however, the Servant has God-given power to sustain the weary. That is no mean feat, because these people have suffered through a long exile and are very, very weary. God has commissioned the Servant to encourage them—to bring them hope. That would be impossible except that God makes it possible.[2]

Collect for Tuesday of the week of Lent 5: Lord, help us to do you will, that your Church may grow and become more faithful in your service. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen [3]

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[1] Palm Sunday Images, © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

[2]https://sermonwriter.com/biblical-commentary/old-testament-isaiah-504-9a-commentary

[3] Collect for Tuesday of the week of Lent 5, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. III © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY

 

Monday prior to Palm Sunday

[1]

Psalm 31 The Antiphon for this coming week’s Introit is taken from verse 31, Into Your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O lord, the God of truth. This Psalm is a prayer of deliverance when confronted by conspiracy so powerful and open that all David’s friends abandoned him. Where do we go when we feel as if we haven’t a friend? We go to Jesus, our friend and confidante our Savior and our Redeemer.

Psalm 31 – Shelter from Trouble in the secret places of God’s presence

This psalm is simply titled,To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. The dedication to the chief musician proves that this song of mingled measures and alternate strains of grief and woe was intended for public singing, and thus a deathblow is given to the notion that nothing but praise should be sung. We have no definite marking place in David’s life for this psalm because he was so often in trouble. It resonates with deep and personal trust in God in the depths of difficulty.

An interesting feature of this psalm is that it is often quoted in other passages of Scripture.

The author of Psalm 71 (possibly David himself) quotes the first three verses of Psalm 31 to start Psalm 71.

Jonah seems to quote Psalm 31:6 in Jonah 2:8, his prayer from the belly of the great fish.

Jeremiah quoted Psalm 31:13 six times, in Jeremiah 6:25; 20:3; 20:10; 46:5; 49:29, and Lamentations 2:22.

Paul quoted Psalm 31:24 in 1 Corinthians 16:13 (according to Adam Clarke, this is more clear in the Septuagint – the early Greek translation of the Old Testament).

Most significantly, Psalm 31:5 was quoted by Jesus Christ on the cross as His final words before yielding His life (Luke 23:46). Stephen, the first martyr of the church, also alluded to Psalm 31:5 (Acts 7:59).[2]

Collect for Psalm 31: God of kindness and truth, you saved your chosen one Jesus Christ and you give your martyrs strength. Watch over your people who come to you now, and strengthen the hearts of those who hope in you, that they may proclaim your saving acts of kindness in the eternal city; though your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. [3]

Collect for Monday of the week of Lent 5: Father of lover, source of all blessings, help us to pass from our old life of sin to the new life of grace. Prepare us for the glory of your kingdom. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives, and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. [4]

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[1] Palm Sunday Images, © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

[2]https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/psalm-31

[3] Collect for Psalm 31, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. III © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY

[4] Ibid, Collect for Monday of the week of Lent 5