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Reminiscere Midweek Vespers

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gate-of-heaven-violet-1024x1024Reminiscere Midweek Vespers

March 8, 2023 AD

Psalm 110
Mark 14:53-65

 

 

I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
Daniel 7:13-14

Again the high priest asked Jesus, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” And Jesus said, “I am; and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.”
Mark 14:61-62

The Holy Scriptures are that book in which the Holy Spirit bears witness to Christ. That is what Holy Scripture is! That is what Holy Scripture is for! And what that means is that everything we find in the pages of Holy Scripture truly points to Christ. Sometimes that is very evident, and sometimes that is far from obvious, FAR from clear. But we never rightly interpret or understand the Scriptures unless we see ALL that is written there in the light of Christ.

I

In the portion of the Passion History we heard this evening, the high priest asks the Lord Jesus, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” meaning the Son of God. Jesus replies: “I am.” “I am.” But this simple answer doesn’t ONLY mean, “Yes, that’s true.” Jesus’ answer, “I AM,” points to the mystery of who He is. For “I AM” is in fact the name of GOD revealed to Moses at the burning bush. For after God appointed Moses to lead the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt, Moses said, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,” and they ask me, ‘What is His name?’ what shall I say to them?” Then God answered Moses, “I am who I am. Say this to the people of Israel ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” “I AM has sent me.” “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” “I AM.

It is especially in Saint John’s Gospel that we find the “I AM” sayings of the Savior: “I am the Bread of Life, I am the True Vine, I am the Light of the world, I am the good Shepherd, I am the resurrection and the Life, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life;” and perhaps the greatest of all of Jesus’ I AM sayings is when He says to His enemies, ‘Before Abraham was, I AM.” Saint John tells us that when His enemies heard those words they tried to stone Him because they believed that His claim to the very name of God was blasphemous.

And so in His answer to the high priest, our Lord again claims for Himself the very name of God, the great I AM. And He identifies Himself with the Son of Man in Daniel’S prophecy, the Son of Man who “comes with the clouds of heaven to the Ancient of Days and is given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations and languages should serve him, [whose] dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” Says the Savior, “You will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

Saint Paul wrote to Timothy, “Great indeed is the mystery of our religion: God was manifest in the flesh.” And in Jesus’ reply to the high priest Jesus Himself points to the mystery of who He is — as we say In the Nicene Creed, “God from God, Light from Light, True God from True God, begotten, not made; being of One substance with the Father, through whom all things were made” — Himself the Great I AM, truly One of the Holy Trinity.

II

But none of this could be seen by the high priest and his council and his guards. What they saw was an obscure Jew from the obscure town of Nazareth in Galilee whom His followers had acclaimed as the promised Messiah, but whom the high priest and his council saw as both a threat to THEIR power over the people; and so they envied Him and were jealous of Him. And they saw Him as a clear and present danger to the nation’s stability under the Roman rule, a Messianic figure under whose influence things could very easily get out of hand.

And so we see Jesus falsely accused and condemned as countless human beings have been falsely accused and condemned down through the ages world without end. But in judging HIM, His enemies were in fact judging themselves. As Saint John writes, “And this is the judgement: that the Light has come into the world and men preferred darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.”

III

In the trial of Jesus we see the works of darkness: the bitter fruit of envy and jealousy, of lust for power, of doing what seems to be expedient rather than what is right and good; we see the power of lies and deception. And so, as we again meditate on our Lord’s trial we must ask ourselves: How is it with me? Am I envious or jealous, do I take pleasure in dominating others? Do I do what is expedient rather than what is right and good? Am I guilty of lying and deception? Am I indifferent to the plight of the weak and helpless — as Jesus was weak and helpless in the hands of His enemies who falsely accused and condemned Him and spit on Him and beat Him without mercy?

It was Saint Augustine who said, “So far had our pride cast us down that only the humility of God could raise us up.” Saint Paul writes that though Jesus “was in the form of God, He did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but humbled Himself.” Our Lord’s whole life was one of perfect humility, but it is especially in His passion that we see that perfect humility, silent before His accusers, accepting the miscarriage of justice, the spitting, and the beating without complaint as the meek Lamb of God.

In the trial before the high priest we see the One who will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead unjustly judged, accepting the condemnation which would bring Him to the cross where He would suffer In our place the condemnation we by our sin have deserved so that we might be acquitted, forgiven, fully and freely pardoned — in the hour of our death and in the day of judgment. And on that day we shall see the perfect and complete fulfillment of His answer to the high priest’s question: “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” “I AM.” And you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

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Parish Newsletters

Our Saviour Parish News, March, 2023

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OUR SAVIOUR LUTHERAN CHURCH

3301 The Alameda
Baltimore, MD 21218
410.235.9553
March, 2023

Mid-Week Lenten Vespers
Wednesdays, 7:30 PM
Soup Suppers 6:30 PM

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

At this year’s Lenten Vespers we are meditating on the Passion of our Lord according to Saint Mark. He was not himself an eyewitness of these events, but from earliest times it has been understood that Mark’s Gospel is based on the teaching of Saint Peter, who was an eyewitness. Typical of the witness of the early church fathers is that of Saint Irenaeus who wrote: “After the death of Peter and Paul, Mark, the disciple and interpreter of Peter, himself handed down to us the things preached by Peter.” So as we listen to the Gospel according to Saint Mark we are hearing the voice of Saint Peter.

Remember that Lenten Vespers at 7:30 each Wednesday is preceded by a soup supper at 6:30. Donations at the soup suppers will be used to purchase Thanksgiving and Christmas ALDI gift certificates for needy families connected with the Waverly School.

Several weeks ago, in his weekly message to the people of Immanuel Church in Alexandria, Pastor Esget called their attention to two prayers which can be used in our private devotions during Lent. One is the Lenten prayer of Saint Ephraim the Syrian, a theologian and hymn writer who lived during the 4th century:

O Lord and Master of my life,
Take from me the spirit of sloth, faint-heartedness, lust of power and idle talk.
But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love to your servant.
Yes, O Lord and King,
Help me to see my own faults and not judge my neighbor,
For You are blessed unto the ages of ages.

The other is the church’s Collect—the appointed prayer—for Ash Wednesday which was written by Thomas Cranmer in 1549 for the first Book of Common Prayer of the Church of England. This prayer came into use among English-speaking Lutherans here in America in the late 19th century. The service books of our Synod at one time directed its use throughout the season of Lent.

Almighty and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that Thou hast made and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of Thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

Both these prayers are so rich in content that they also provide much food for meditation during the Lenten season.

With Easter little more than a month away, it is time to order the Easter lilies. Each plant costs $16.00. Be sure to include with your check the names of those you wish to honor or remember. The deadline for ordering the lilies is Palm Sunday, April 2. Envelopes are available at church.

At the end of this newsletter you will find the schedule of our Holy Week services. It is not a minute too soon to make plans to attend these services in which we remember and celebrate our Savior’s passion, death and resurrection, the foundation of our faith as Christians. In truth this is the heart of the Christian Year. Is it too much to expect that Christians will join in the services of these great holy days?

Some necessary work will be done on the organ beginning Monday, March 6. That means that we will not be able to use the organ for several weeks. In the meantime we will use the piano, which has recently been tuned. The work will be completed before the beginning of Holy Week.

I am grateful that the pastor’s study has gotten some long needed attention. There has been some water damage which predates my arrival here in May 2013. That has now been repaired and the study given a fresh coat of paint. Jean West put us in touch with Rafael Montoya who has done a splendid job for a very reasonable price.

Let us continue to remember in prayer: James Bauman, Louis Bell, Dana Carmichael, Maggie Doswell, Quilla Downs, Albert Ford, Frank Ford, Iris Ford, Yolanda Ford, Helen Gray, Queenie Hardaway, Gloria Jones, Althea Masterson, Mary Mokris, Julia Silver, Robert Siperek, Jr., Lawrence Smallwood, George Volkman, Dennis Watson, Gary Watson, Jean West, Wayne West. Maggie Doswell remains at Cadia Healthcare, 4922 LaSalle Road, Hyattsville, MD 20782; Yolanda Ford at Future Care, 1046 North Point Road, Baltimore, MD 21224; Louis Bell at Autumn Lake Healthcare, 7 Sudbrook Drive, Pikesville, MD 21208; Queenie Hardaway at Augsburg Village, 6825 Campfield Road, Baltimore, MD 21207. It is now possible to visit them; cards are always welcome.

Daylight Savings Time begins on Sunday, March 12. Remember to set your clocks forward by one hour: “Spring forward, Fall back.”

Please remember to bring food items for the GEDCO Food Pantry. I am sure we all realize that the need remains very great. And remember to bring personal care items for the Helping Up Mission. Boxes for these works of mercy can be found just inside the door from the parking lot north of the church.

The Sunday morning Bible Class is continuing its study of the First Epistle of Peter. The Christians Peter addressed were suffering because of their faith. Come join us at 9:45 AM! Questions are very welcome.

If you are sick or wish to talk with me or bring you the Sacrament, do not hesitate to call me at (410) 554–9994 or email me at charlesmcclean42@gmail.com.

Lent was anciently the time when candidates were prepared for Holy Baptism at Easter. At your baptism (and again at your confirmation) you promised to be faithful to the triune God by walking in conformity to the will of God, being sustained by faithful use of the means of grace: by listening to the preaching and teaching of God’s Word and by the Holy Sacrament. Ask yourself: Have I been faithful to the promises made at my baptism and confirmation or am I negligent, even indifferent to God’s gracious gifts in His Word and Sacrament? There is also this. As a baptized Christian, you are a member of Christ’s mystical body, the Church, and therefore have an obligation to your fellow members, not least by encouraging them by your presence at Divine Service on the Lord’s Day. When you needlessly absent yourself from the Divine Service, you not only sin against God but also against your fellow Christians. Lent is especially a time for repentance, for new beginnings. Think on these things! Says the psalmist, “O Lord, I love the habitation of Your house and the place where Your glory dwells” (Psalm 26:8).

Affectionately in our Lord,

Pastor McClean

HOLY WEEK AND EASTER 2023

Palm Sunday—Distribution of Palms, Procession and Divine Service; 11:00 AM
Maundy Thursday—Divine Service and Stripping of the Altar; 7:30 PM
Good Friday—Liturgy of Good Friday; 7:30 PM
EASTER EVE—The Easter Vigil and first Eucharist of Easter; 7:30 PM
EASTER DAY—Festival Divine Service; 11:00 AM. Bible Class will not meet.