LLL Lenten Devotional Thread (Ecumenical)

[Breetai]

He is risen indeed! (nice pic)

 

[ChoirDir]

Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian

O Lord and Master of my life, cast away from me the spirit of laziness, idle curiosity, love of power and vain talk.
But grant me, Your servant, the spirit of moderation, humility, patience and love.
Yes, Lord and King, grant me to see my own faults and not to judge my brothers and sisters.
For You are blessed forever. Amen.

 

[JVAC]

"Remember, you are dust and to dust you shall return."
​

 

[Phoebe]

(Make the sign of the cross)
God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit watch over me. Amen.

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, ans the life everlasting. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Amen.

(Luther's morning prayer)
I give thanks to you, my heavenly Father through Jesus Christ your dear Son, that you have protected me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask that you would also protect me today from every sin and all evil, so that my life and actions may please you completely. For into your hands I commend myself; my body, my soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel be with me, so that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.

Thursday:
Enlightenment of the Holy Spirit:

Lord God, you taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending them the light of your Holy Spirit. Grant that we, by your Spirit, may have a right judgement in all things and evermore rejoice in his holy counsel; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

[JVAC]

At the Cross, Her Station Keeping
LBW #110

At the cross, her station keeping,
Stood the mournful mother weeping,
Close to Jesus to the last.
Through her heart, his sorrow sharing,
All his bitter anguish bearing,
Now at lenght the sword had passed.

Oh, how sad and sore distressed,
Was that mother highly blessed
Of the sole begotten one!
Oh, the depth of her affliction
As she saw the crucifixion
Of her dying glorious Son!

Who, on Christ's dear mother gazing,
Pierced by anguish so amazing,
Born of woman, would not weep?
Who on Christ's dear mother thinking,
Such a cup of sorrow drinking,
Would not share her sorrows deep?

For his people's sin chastised,
She beheld her Son despised,
Scourged, and crowned with throns entwined;
Saw him then from judgment taken,
And in death by all forsaken,
Till his spirit her resigned.

Jesus, may her deep devotion
Stir in me the same emotion,
Source of love, reddemer true.
Let me thus fresh ardor gaining
And a purer love attaining,
Consecrate my life to you.

 

[JVAC]

Scripture readings for the Second day of Lent​

(LBW pg 187)​

Habakkuk 3:1-10(11-15)16-18​

Philippians 3:12-21​

John 17:1-8​

 

[JVAC]

Heavenly Father: We give thanks this day for the gift of parents. We thank you for their time, their love, their patience and unselfishness. May your Holy Spirit guide all parents in caring for their families. Protect those children who are neglected. Rescue those who are abused. Unite us as one family of faith in trust and servanthood. We praise you, Gracious Father, that, in all times, and, in all places, you give good gifts to your children. Amen.

(daily prayers from BELC)

 

[Eusebios]

Song 1. Tone 6.






Eirmos: He is my Helper and Protector, and has become my salvation.




This is my God and I will glorify Him My father's God and I will exalt




Him.* For gloriously has He been glorified. (Exodus 15:2, 1; Psalm




117:14)






Refrain: Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me.






Troparia:






I have willfully incurred the guilt of Cain's murder, since by




invigorating my flesh I am the murderer of my soul's awareness, and




have warred against it by my evil deeds. (Genesis 4:8)






I have not resembled Abel's righteousness, O Jesus.* I have never




offered Thee acceptable gifts, nor divine actions, nor a pure




sacrifice, nor an unblemished life. (Genesis 4:4)






Like Cain, we too, O wretched soul, have likewise offered to the




Creator of all foul deeds, defective sacrifice and a useless life.




Therefore we too are condemned. (Genesis 4:5; Hebrews 11:4)






In molding my clay into life, O Potter, Thou didst put in me flesh and




bones, breath and vitality.* But, O my Creator, my Redeemer and Judge,




accept me who repent. (Genesis 2:7; Jeremiah 18:1-10; Rom. 9:21)






I confess to Thee, O Saviour, the sins I have committed, and the wounds




of my body and soul which murderous thoughts like robbers within have




inflicted upon me. (Luke 10:30)






I have sinned, O Saviour, yet I know that Thou art the Lover of men.




Thou strikest compassionately and pitiest warmly. Thou seest me weeping




and runnest towards me as the Father recalling the Prodigal. (Luke




15:20)






Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:






To The Trinity: Superessential Trinity, adored in Unity, take from me




the heavy yoke of sin, and in Thy compassion grant me tears of




compunction.






Now and ever, and to the ages of ages.* Amen.

 

[theseed]

I will work the ancient paths as the LORD says (Jeremiah 6.16, see signature). Will you make the same commitment with me?


Psalm 119

m Mem
97 Oh, how I love your law!
I meditate on it all day long.
98 Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,
for they are ever with me.
99 I have more insight than all my teachers,
for I meditate on your statutes.
100 I have more understanding than the elders,
for I obey your precepts.
101 I have kept my feet from every evil path
so that I might obey your word.
102 I have not departed from your laws,
for you yourself have taught me.
103 How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 I gain understanding from your precepts;
therefore I hate every wrong path.


n Nun
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path.
106 I have taken an oath and confirmed it,
that I will follow your righteous laws.

 

[Phoebe]

(Make the sign of the cross)
God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit watch over me. Amen.

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Amen.

(Luther's morning prayer)
I give thanks to you, my heavenly Father through Jesus Christ your dear Son, that you have protected me this night from all harm and danger, and I ask that you would also protect me today from every sin and all evil, so that my life and actions may please you completely. For into your hands I commend myself; my body, my soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel be with me, so that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.

for young persons:
God our father, you see your children growing up in an uncertain and confusing world. Show them that your ways give more life than the ways of the world, and that following you is better than chasing after selfish goals. Help them to take failure, not as a measure of their worth, but as an opportunity for a new start. Give them strength to hold their faith in you and to keep alive their joy in your creation, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

[JVAC]

Scripture Readings for the Third day of Lent:​

Ezekial 18:1-4,25-32​

Philippians 3:12-21​

John 17:9-19​

Hymnic Response:​

Lead On, O King Eternal​

LBW #495​

Lead on, O King eternal!​

The day of march has come;​

Hence forth in fields of conquest​

Your tents will be our home.​

Through days of preparation​

Your grace has made us strong;​

And now, O King eternal,​

We lift our battle song.​

Lead on, O King eternal,​

Till sins' fierce war shall cease,​

And holiness shall whisper​

The sweet amen of peace;​

For not with swords loud clashing,​

Nor roll of stirring drums,​

But deeds of love and mercy​

Te heav'nly kingdom comes.​

Lead on, O King eternal:​

We follow, not with fears,​

For gladness breaks like morning​

Where're your face appears.​

Your cross is lifted o'er us;​

We journey in its light;​

The crown awaits the conquest;​

Lead on, O God of might!​

 

[JVAC]

Scripture for the Fourth Day of Lent​

Ezekial 39:21-29​

Philippians 4:10-20​

John 17:20-26​

Hymnic Response:

Rise Up, O Saints of God!
LBW #383

Rise up, O Saints of God!
From vain ambitions turn;
Christ rose triumphant that your hearts,
with nobler zeal might burn.

Speak out, O Saints of God!
Despair engulfts earth's frame;
As heirs of God's baptismal grace,
His word of Hope proclaim!

Rise up, O Saints of God!
His kingdom's task embrace;
Redress sin's cruel consequence;
Give justice larger place.

Give heed, O Saints of God!
Creation cries in pain;
Stretch forth your hand of healing now,
With love the weak sustain.

Commit your hearts to seek
The paths which Christ has trod
And quickened by the Spirit's power,
Rise up, O Saints of God!

 

[Phoebe]

(Make the sign of the cross)
God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit watch over me. Amen.

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven
Hallowed be Thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Amen.

Luther's evening prayer:
I give thanks to you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ your dear Son, that you have graciously protected me today, and I ask you to forgive me all my sins, where I have done wrong, and to graciously protect me tonight. For into your hands I commend myself: my body, my soul, and all that is mine. Let your holy angel be with me, so that the wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.

Heavenly Father, I ask You to guide the hearts and minds of all people at Christian Forums. Please be with them throughout their day, and bless them in their daily work. Through Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

 

[theologia crucis]

http://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/Worship/LentDevos2004.pdf

Daily Devotions for Lent

Week of the First Sunday in Lent
February 29

INVOCATION

The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.​

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Psalm 130 (NIV)

Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;

O Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.

If you, O LORD , kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?

But with you there is forgiveness; therefore you are feared.

I wait for the LORD , my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.

My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.

O Israel, put your hope in the LORD , for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.

He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.

PRAYER

O almighty and eternal God, we implore You to direct, sanctify, and govern our hearts and bodies in the ways of Your laws and the works of Your commandments that through Your mighty protection, both now and ever, we may be preserved in body and in soul; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen (Lutheran Worship, p. 33).

HYMN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .LW 298:3

Though devils all the world should fill,
All eager to devour us,
We tremble not, we fear no ill,
They shall not overpower us.
This world’s prince may still
Scowl fierce as he will,
He can harm us none,
He’s judged; the deed is done’
On little world can fell him.

SCRIPTURE
Sunday: Luke 4:1–13

The temptation of Jesus shows that He is both God and man, tempted as we are in every way (human) except without sin (God). To repel Satan’s attacks, Jesus relies on the Word of God. From which Old Testament book does Jesus quote? (See parallel references for vv. 4, 8, and 12.) These Old Testament passages are from the account of Israel’s wilderness testing where God’s people failed to be faithful. For the final temptation, Satan misuses and misapplies the Scripture. Can you think of individuals and/or groups who do the same in our day? If Jesus had yielded to any of these temptations, He would have reversed the order of God’s kingdom, putting glory before suffering. But what does the life of Christ show us is the true order? (See Rom. 8:18.)

 

[theologia crucis]

Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted

By: Thomas Kelly

Stricken, smitten, and afflicted,
See him dying on the tree!
This is Christ, by man rejected;
Here, my soul, your Savior see.
He’s the long expected prophet,
David’s son, yet David’s Lord.
Proofs I see sufficient of it:
He’s the true and faithful Word.

Tell me, all who hear him groaning,
Was there ever grief like this?
Friends through fear his cause disowning,
Foes insulting his distress;
Many hands were raised to wound him,
None would intervene to save;
But the deepest stroke that pierced him
Was the stroke that justice gave.

You who think of sin but lightly
Nor suppose the evil great
Here may view its nature rightly,
Here its guilt may estimate.
Mark the sacrifice appointed;
See who bears the awful load;
It’s the Word, the Lord’s Anointed,
Son of Man and son of God.

Here we have a firm foundation;
Here the refuge of the lost;
Christ, the rock of our salvation,
His the name of which we boast.
Lamb of God, for sinners wounded,
Sacrifice to cancel guilt!
None shall ever be confounded
Who on him their hope have built.

Notes:
Hymn # 116 from Lutheran Worship
Author: Geistliche Volkslieder
Tune: O Mein Jesu, Ich Muss Sterben
1st Published in: 1850

 

[Breetai]

1st Sunday in Lent



Deuteronomy 26
5 Then you shall declare before the LORD your God: "My father was a wandering Aramean, and he went down into Egypt with a few people and lived there and became a great nation, powerful and numerous.
6 But the Egyptians mistreated us and made us suffer, putting us to hard labor.
7 Then we cried out to the LORD, the God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice and saw our misery, toil and oppression.
8 So the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, with great terror and with miraculous signs and wonders.
9 He brought us to this place and gave us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey;
10 and now I bring the firstfruits of the soil that you, O LORD, have given me." Place the basket before the LORD your God and bow down before him.(NIV)

Romans 10
8 "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming:
9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
11 As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."
12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,
13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (NIV)

Luke 4
1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert,
2 where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
3 The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread."
4 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone.' "
5 The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.
6 And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.
7 So if you worship me, it will all be yours."
8 Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.' "
9 The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down from here.
10 For it is written: "'He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully;
11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.' "
12 Jesus answered, "It says: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.' "
13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.(NIV)





Introit
He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation
If you make the Most High your dwelling --
even the Lord, who is my refuge --
then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
"Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him."
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen
He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
(from page 33 of LW)

 

[JVAC]

Fifth day of Lent​

Genesis 37:1-11​

1 Corinthians, 1:1-19​

Mark 1:1-13​

Hymn of Response

O Jesus, I have promised
LBW #503

O Jesus, I have promised
To serve you to the end;
Remain forever near me,
My master and my friend.
I shall not fear the battle
If you are by my side,
Nor wander from the pathway
If you will be my guide.

Oh, let me feel you near me;
The world is ever near.
I see the sights that dazzle,
The tempting sounds I hear.
My foes are ever near me,
Around me and within;
But, Jesus, then draw nearer
To shield my soul from sin.

Oh, let me hear you speaking
In accents clear and still
Above the storms of passion,
The murmurs of self will.
Now speak to reasure me,
To hasten or control;
Now speak and make me listen,
O Guardian of my soul.

O Jesus, you have promised
To all who follow you
That where you are in glory
Your servant shall be too.
And Jesus, I have promised
To serve you to the end;
Oh, give me grace to follow,
My master and my friend.

 

[JVAC]

Sixth day of Lent​

Genesis 37:12-24​

1 Corinthians 1:20-31​

Mark 1:14-28​

Hymn of Response

The Church of Christ, in Every Age
LBW #433

The Church of Christ, in ev'ry age
Beset by change, but Spirit led,
Must claim and test its heritage
And keep on rising from the dead.

Across the world, across the street,
The victims of injustice cry
For shelter and for bread to eat,
And never live before they die.

Then let the servant Church arise,
A caring Church that longs to be
A partner in Christ's sacrifice,
And clothed in Christ's humanity.

For he alone, whose blood was shed,
Can cure the fever in our blood,
And teach us how to share our bread
And feed the starving multitude

We have no mission but to serve
In full obedience to our Lord;
To care for all, without reserve,
ANd spread his liberating Word.

 

[theologia crucis]

A MEDITATION ON CHRIST’S PASSION​

1. Some people meditate on Christ’s passion by venting their anger on the Jews. This singing and ranting about wretched Judas satisfies them, for they are in the habit of complaining about other people, of condemning and reproaching their adversaries. That might well be a meditation on the wickedness of Judas and the Jews, but not on the sufferings of Christ.

2. Some point to the manifold benefits and fruits that grow from contemplating Christ’s passion. There is a saying ascribed to Albertus about this, that it is more beneficial to ponder Christ’s passion just once than to fast a whole year or to pray a psalm daily, etc. These people follow this saying blindly and therefore do not reap the fruit of Christ’s passion, for in so doing they are seeking their own advantage. They carry pictures and booklets, letters and crosses on their person. Some who travel afar do this in the belief that they thus protect themselves against water and sword, fire, and all sorts of perils. Christ’s suffering is thus used to effect in them a lack of suffering contrary to his being and nature.

3. Some feel pity for Christ, lamenting and bewailing his innocence. They are like the women who followed Christ from Jerusalem and were chided and told by Christ that it would be better to weep for themselves and their children [Luke 23:27–28]. They are the kind of people who go far afield in their meditation on the passion, making much of Christ’s farewell from Bethany and of the Virgin Mary’s anguish, but never progressing beyond that, which is why so many hours are devoted to the contemplation of Christ’s passion. Only God knows whether that is invented for the purpose of sleeping or of waking.

Also to this group belong those who have learned what rich fruits the holy mass offers. In their simplemindedness they think it enough simply to hear mass. In support of this several teachers are cited to us who hold that the mass is opere operati, non opere operantis, that it is effective in itself without our merit and worthiness, and that this is all that is needed. Yet the mass was not instituted for its own worthiness, but to make us worthy and to remind us of the passion of Christ. Where that is not done, we make of the mass a physical and unfruitful act, though even this is of some good. Of what help is it to you that God is God, if he is not God to you? Of what benefit is it to you that food and drink are good and wholesome in themselves if they are not healthful for you? And it is to be feared that many masses will not improve matters as long as we do not seek the right fruit in them.

4. They contemplate Christ’s passion aright who view it with a terror-stricken heart and a despairing conscience. This terror must be felt as you witness the stern wrath and the unchanging earnestness with which God looks upon sin and sinners, so much so that he was unwilling to release sinners even for his only and dearest Son without his payment of the severest penalty for them. Thus he says in Isaiah 53 [:8], “I have chastised him for the transgressions of my people.” If the dearest child is punished thus, what will be the fate of sinners? It must be an inexpressible and unbearable earnestness that forces such a great and infinite person to suffer and die to appease it. And if you seriously consider that it is God’s very own Son, the eternal wisdom of the Father, who suffers, you will be terrified indeed. The more you think about it, the more intensely will you be frightened.

5. You must get this thought through your head and not doubt that you are the one who is torturing Christ thus, for your sins have surely wrought this. In Acts 2 [:36–37] St. Peter frightened the Jews like a peal of thunder when he said to all of them, “You crucified him.” Consequently three thousand alarmed and terrified Jews asked the apostles on that one day, “O dear brethren, what shall we do now?” Therefore, when you see the nails piercing Christ’s hands, you can be certain that it is your work. When you behold his crown of thorns, you may rest assured that these are your evil thoughts, etc.

6. For every nail that pierces Christ, more than one hundred thousand should in justice pierce you, yes, they should prick you forever and ever more painfully! When Christ is tortured by nails penetrating his hands and feet, you should eternally suffer the pain they inflict and the pain of even more cruel nails, which will in truth be the lot of those who do not avail themselves of Christ’s passion. This earnest mirror, Christ, will not lie or trifle, and whatever it points out will come to pass in full measure.

7. St. Bernard was so terrified by this that he declared, “I regarded myself secure; I was not aware of the eternal sentence that had been passed on me in heaven until I saw that God’s only Son had compassion upon me and offered to bear this sentence for me. Alas, if the situation is that serious, I should not make light of it or feel secure.” We read that Christ commanded the women not to weep for him but for themselves and their children [Luke 23:28]. And he adds the reason for this, saying, “For if they do this to the green wood, what will happen when it is dry?” [Luke 23:31] He says as it were: From my martyrdom you can learn what it is that you really deserve and what your fate should be. Here the saying applies that the small dog is whipped to frighten the big dog. Thus the prophet said that all the generations on earth will bewail themselves over him; he does not say that they will bewail him, but that they will bewail themselves because of him. In like manner the people of whom we heard in Acts 2 [ :36–37] were so frightened that they said to the apostles, “O brethren, what shall we do?” This is also the song of the church: “I will ponder this diligently and, as a result, my soul will languish within me.”

8. We must give ourselves wholly to this matter, for the main benefit of Christ’s passion is that man sees into his own true self and that he be terrified and crushed by this. Unless we seek that knowledge, we do not derive much benefit from Christ’s passion. The real and true work of Christ’s passion is to make man conformable to Christ, so that man’s conscience is tormented by his sins in like measure as Christ was pitiably tormented in body and soul by our sins. This does not call for many words but for profound reflection and a great awe of sins. Take this as an illustration: a criminal is sentenced to death for the murder of the child of a prince or a king. In the meantime you go your carefree way, singing and playing, until you are cruelly arrested and convicted of having inspired the murderer. Now the whole world closes in upon you, especially since your conscience also deserts you. You should be terrified even more by the meditation on Christ’s passion. For the evildoers, the Jews, whom God has judged and driven out, were only the servants of your sin; you are actually the one who, as we said, by his sin killed and crucified God’s Son.

9. He who is so hardhearted and callous as not to be terrified by Christ’s passion and led to a knowledge of self, has reason to fear. For it is inevitable, whether in this life or in hell, that you will have to become conformable to Christ’s image and suffering. At the very least, you will sink into this terror in the hour of death and in purgatory and will tremble and quake and feel all that Christ suffered on the cross. Since it is horrible to lie waiting on your deathbed, you should pray God to soften your heart and let you now ponder Christ’s passion with profit to you. Unless God inspires our heart, it is impossible for us of ourselves to meditate thoroughly on Christ’s passion. No meditation or any other doctrine is granted to you that you might be boldly inspired by your own will to accomplish this. You must first seek God’s grace and ask that it be accomplished by his grace and not by your own power. That is why the people we referred to above fail to view Christ’s passion aright. They do not seek God’s help for this, but look to their own ability to devise their own means of accomplishing this. They deal with the matter in a completely human but also unfruitful way.

 

[theologia crucis]

-continued-

10. We say without hesitation that he who contemplates God’s sufferings for a day, an hour, yes, only a quarter of an hour, does better than to fast a whole year, pray a psalm daily, yes, better than to hear a hundred masses. This meditation changes man’s being and, almost like baptism, gives him a new birth. Here the passion of Christ performs its natural and noble work, strangling the old Adam and banishing all joy, delight, and confidence which man could derive from other creatures, even as Christ was forsaken by all, even by God.

11. Since this [strangling of the old Adam] does not rest with us, it happens that we occasionally pray for it, and yet do not attain it at once. Nevertheless we should neither despair nor desist. At times this happens because we do not pray for it as God conceives of it and wishes it, for it must be left free and unfettered. Then man becomes sad in his conscience and grumbles to himself about the evil in his life. It may well be that he does not know that Christ’s passion, to which he gives no thought, is effecting this in him, even as the others who do think of Christ’s passion still do not gain this knowledge of self through it. For these the passion of Christ is hidden and genuine, while for those it is only unreal and misleading. In that way God often reverses matters, so that those who do not meditate on Christ’s passion do meditate on it, and those who do not hear mass do hear it, and those who hear it do not hear it.

12. Until now we have sojourned in Passion Week and rightly celebrated Good Friday. Now we come to the resurrection of Christ, to the day of Easter. After man has thus become aware of his sin and is terrified in his heart, he must watch that sin does not remain in his conscience, for this would lead to sheer despair. Just as [our knowledge of] sin flowed from Christ and was acknowledged by us, so we must pour this sin back on him and free our conscience of it. Therefore beware, lest you do as those perverse people who torture their hearts with their sins and strive to do the impossible, namely, get rid of their sins by running from one good work or penance to another, or by working their way out of this by means of indulgences. Unfortunately such false confidence in penance and pilgrimages is widespread.

13. You east your sins from yourself and onto Christ when you firmly believe that his wounds and sufferings are your sins, to be borne and paid for by him, as we read in Isaiah 53 [:6], “The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” St. Peter says, “in his body has he borne our sins on the wood of the cross” [I Pet. 2:24]. St. Paul says, “God has made him a sinner for us, so that through him we would be made just” [II Cor. 5:21]. You must stake everything on these and similar verses. The more your conscience torments you, the more tenaciously must you cling to them. If you do not do that, but presume to still your conscience with your contrition and penance, you will never obtain peace of mind, but will have to despair in the end. If we allow sin to remain in our conscience and try to deal with it there, or if we look at sin in our heart, it will be much too strong for us and will live on forever. But if we behold it resting on Christ and [see it] overcome by his resurrection, and then boldly believe this, even it is dead and nullified. Sin cannot remain on Christ, since it is swallowed up by his resurrection. Now you see no wounds, no pain in him, and no sign of sin. Thus St. Paul declares that “Christ died for our sin and rose for our justification” [Rom. 4:25]. That is to say, in his suffering Christ makes our sin known and thus destroys it, but through his resurrection he justifies us and delivers us from all sin, if we believe this.

14. If, as was said before, you cannot believe, you must entreat God for faith. This too rests entirely in the hands of God. What we said about suffering also applies here, namely, that sometimes faith is granted openly, sometimes in secret.
However, you can spur yourself on to believe. First of all, you must no longer contemplate the suffering of Christ (for this has already done its work and terrified you), but pass beyond that and see his friendly heart and how this heart beats with such love for you that it impels him to bear with pain your conscience and your sin. Then your heart will be filled with love for him, and the confidence of your faith will be strengthened. Now continue and rise beyond Christ’s heart to God’s heart and you will see that Christ would not have shown this love for you if God in his eternal love had not wanted this, for Christ’s love for you is due to his obedience to God. Thus you will find the divine and kind paternal heart, and, as Christ says, you will be drawn to the Father through him. Then you will understand the words of Christ, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, etc.” [John 3:16]. We know God aright when we grasp him not in his might or wisdom (for then he proves terrifying), but in his kindness and love. Then faith and confidence are able to exist, and then man is truly born anew in God.

15. After your heart has thus become firm in Christ, and love, not fear of pain, has made you a foe of sin, then Christ’s passion must from that day on become a pattern for your entire life. Henceforth you will have to see his passion differently. Until now we regarded it as a sacrament which is active in us while we are passive, but now we find that we too must be active, namely, in the following. If pain or sickness afflicts you, consider how paltry this is in comparison with the thorny crown and the nails of Christ. If you are obliged to do or to refrain from doing things against your wishes, ponder how Christ was bound and captured and led hither and yon. If you are beset by pride, see how your Lord was mocked and ridiculed along with criminals. If unchastity and lust assail you, remember how ruthlessly Christ’s tender flesh was scourged, pierced, and beaten. If hatred, envy, and vindictiveness beset you, recall that Christ, who indeed had more reason to avenge himself, interceded with tears and cries for you and for all his enemies. If sadness or any adversity, physical or spiritual, distresses you, strengthen your heart and say, “Well, why should I not be willing to bear a little grief, when agonies and fears caused my Lord to sweat blood in the Garden of Gethsemane? He who lies abed while his master struggles in the throes of death is indeed a slothful and disgraceful servant.”

So then, this is how we can draw strength and encouragement from Christ against every vice and failing. That is a proper contemplation of Christ’s passion, and such are its fruits. And he who exercises himself in that way does better than to listen to every story of Christ’s passion or to read all the masses. This is not to say that masses are of no value, but they do not help us in such meditation and exercise.

Those who thus make Christ’s life and name a part of their own lives are true Christians. St. Paul says, “Those who belong to Christ have crucified their flesh with all its desires” [Gal. 5:24]. Christ’s passion must be met not with words or forms, but with life and truth. Thus St. Paul exhorts us, “Consider him who endured such hostility from evil people against himself, so that you may be strengthened and not be weary at heart” [Heb. 12:3]. And St. Peter, “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, strengthen and arm yourselves by meditating on this” [I Pet. 4:1]. However, such meditation has become rare, although the letters of St. Paul and St. Peter abound with it. We have transformed the essence into semblance and painted our meditations on Christ’s passion on walls and made them into letters.

Martin Luther, vol. 42, Luther's Works, Vol. 42 : Devotional Writings I, ed. Jaroslav Jan Pelikan, Hilton C. Oswald and Helmut T. Lehmann, Luther's Works (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1999, c1969).

LW 42:7-14