Commemoration Henry, Bishop of Uppsala

Commemoration

Henry, Bishop of Uppsala, Martyr, d. 1156 (transferred from January 19)

Reflection

Details about Henry’s life are sketchy, and various legends have sprung up from his life, including many miracles.

Henrik, as he is called throughout Scandinavia, was born in England. In 1151, while he was living in Rome, he was chosen to accompany the papal legate, Cardinal Breakspear, who would later become Pope Hadrian IV, to Scandinavia. Breakspear consecrated Henry Bishop of Uppsala the following year. In 1155, the King Erik of Sweden took Henry to Finland. The expedition was both politically and religiously motivated (how often in the history of the Church have the two been inextricably entwined!). The King, since regarded as St. Erik, wanted both to Christianize the Finns and to extend his control over them. Christianity had already been embraced by the Finns for at least two centuries by that time, but Henry was effective in organizing the Church and is considered the founder of the Church in Finland.

Henry evidently made quick work of his ministry among the Finns. Less than a year after his arrival, he was slain by an axe-wielding farmer, who, according to tradition, was angry that Henry had censured him.

Prayer

Gracious God, Thank you for the life and witness of your servant, Henry, and for his willingness to go where you had called him. By his example, inspire and embolden us to listen to and embrace your call in our lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Second Sunday after Epiphany

After the Baptism of Our Lord, John sees Jesus coming and declares, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Did he know what he was saying? What could it mean? Two of John’s disciples left him to follow Jesus’ invitation to “Come and see.” Epiphany is an invitation to “come and see.” We wonder if it is possible to “see” with new eyes without following, without accepting the invitation to “come.” Maybe the two go together.

"Look, here is the Lamb of God!"

Saturday, January 18

Scripture

The next day John [the baptizer] again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!” (John 2:35-36)

Reflection

John, who had baptized Jesus in the Jordan River (we celebrated the Baptism of Our Lord last Sunday), sees Jesus coming and declares, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Did he know what he was saying? What could it mean? Two of John’s disciples left him to follow Jesus’ invitation to “Come and see.” Epiphany is an invitation to “come and see.” We wonder if it is possible to “see” with new eyes without following, without accepting the invitation to “come.” Maybe the two go together.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, Empower me to accept your invitation to “Come and see,” and to experience the abundant life you have in store for me. In your name I pray. Amen.

Commemoration Antony of Egypt

Commemoration January 17

Antony of Egypt, Renewer of the Church, c. 356

Reflection

Called by those who knew him “the friend of God,” Antony, as a young man, was moved by the command of Jesus, “Go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me” (Matthew 19:21). He gave away his considerable inheritance and devoted himself to a life of solitude, prayer, and study of Scripture, supporting himself by making baskets. His fame as a wise and holy man spread, and disciples gathered around him, whom Antony organized into loosely-knit communities, providing for them a rule for communal living and prayer. At the age of around 61, Antony withdrew further into solitude, retiring to a cave on Mount Colzim in the harsh mountainous Eastern Desert of Egypt, near the northwest corner of the Red Sea, where he remained until he died at the age of over 100. The still-extant Monastery of St. Antony was built a few years after his death. During the summer of 1996, six monks established another monastery named after St. Antony in the desert of Arizona, where some 40 monks now reside.

Prayer

Gracious God, Thank you for your servant Antony and his example of self-denial and devotion. Instill in us the same devotion to your word and to prayer. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

God is faithful

Thursday, January 16

Scripture

God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:9)

Reflection

Can there be any higher calling than to be called into the fellowship of Jesus? In the words of a beloved praise song, “There is no greater thing!” (Ask me, and I’ll sing it for you.)

Paul, in the first verse of this First Letter to the Corinthians, asserts that he has been called by God. In the next breath—the next verse—he insists that those Christians in Corinth have been “called to be saints.”

If Paul had written a letter to the “Concordians,” to us here at Concordia, he would likewise insist that we, too, have been called to be saints, “sanctified in Christ Jesus” (v. 2).

We at Concordia are indeed a fellowship: “God is faithful; by him [we] were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Prayer

Gracious God, Bind us together into the fellowship of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Commemoration January 15

Martin Luther King, Jr., Renewer of Society, Martyr, d. 1968

Reflection

It seems we know much more about Martin Luther King, Jr., than we do about Martin Luther, his namesake. Probably all of us who are old enough remember where we were and what we were doing when we heard the news of his assassination during that tumultuous year. Commemorations are usually noted on the date of death, in King’s case, April 4. Our calendar observes him today, on his birthday.

Because we are familiar with various aspects of King’s life, we will give more space to some of his writing, from his “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” April 16, 1963:

. . . I am in Birmingham because injustice is here. Just as the prophets of the eighth century B.C. left their villages and carried their “thus saith the Lord” far beyond the boundaries of their home towns, and just as the Apostle Paul left his village of Tarsus and carried the gospel of Jesus Christ to the far corners of the Graeco-Roman world, so am I compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my home town. Like Paul, I must constantly respond to the Macedonian call for aid.

Moreover, I am cognizant of the interrelatedness of all communities and states. I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.

Prayer

Gracious God, Thank you for your servant, Martin Luther King, Jr., and for his bold conviction that all people are created in your Image, with dignity and value, and for his tireless efforts toward justice. Give us that same conviction. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Lord put a new song in my mouth

Tuesday, January 14

Scripture

The Lord put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many shall see, and stand in awe, and put their trust in the Lord. (Psalm 40:3)

Reflection

Our psalmist has been in a “desolate pit” (v. 2). The Lord has lifted up our psalmist. We don’t know how long our psalmist waited patiently on the Lord, but the Lord stooped and heard the psalmist’s cry (v. 1).

Our songs, whether new or old, are songs of praise to God. They testify to God’s goodness and love. Others hear our songs and take note of them. They are moved by them, not because they point to us, but to the One who gave us voice to sing, whether in tune or not.

We sing, even if—especially if—we are in a desolate pit. Who knows? Maybe, in our singing, we will be lifted up.

Prayer

Put a new song in my mouth, O God, and may my praise be to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.