Liturgy Lesson for the Fourth Sunday in Lent: Rejoice
April 3, 2011
The Fourth Sunday of Lent, called “Laetare” (Rejoice) is named for the first words of the Introit prayed or sung before the procession to the Holy Table. In the first six or seven centuries, Lent began on the Sunday after Quinquagesima (50 Days before Easter)—but was only thirty-six fasting days. Church Fathers then added four days preceding, making a Biblical 40-day fast—as Jesus did in the Wilderness before He began His ministry. Originally the middle day of Lent, the Thursday before Laetare enjoyed relaxed discipline with special joy to encourage the faithful in their devotion through Lent’s Holy Ghost–powered examen. Later, it was moved to the more practical Sunday feast day. Like Gaudete Sunday in Advent, this Sunday uses flowers on the altar and more festive worship music and allows rose-colored vestments instead of the more penitential purple as on the other Lenten Sundays, reminding us that it’s the quality of our devotion—not the details—that God wants—and that we are not to make our customs into the Law. The contrast between Laetare and other Lenten Sundays, then, echoes a promise God gave us in Scripture—that when the Enemy [of our Souls] rushes in like a flood, He would provide a standard to rally to—much like during the Exodus, when God instructed Moses to fashion a brazen pole and serpent; which, when looked upon, ensured Israelites bitten by venomous snakes would live. This all points us to Jesus—our Hope of Glory—our Standard to rally in the Wilderness to live eternally. On this day that is also called Refreshment Sunday, Sunday of the Five Loaves (from a miracle recorded in the Gospel), Mid-Lent, and Mothering Sunday, we rightly take joy in today’s Epistle, as it cites our right to be called sons of God—and not in bondage to the letter of the law—eating the miracle meal from Jesus’ own hand—nailed to the Cross for us. Rally us, Lord—we follow you!!
Book Review: The Hope of Glory
April 1, 2011
The Hope of Glory: 100 Daily Meditations on Colossians by Sam Storms
Available in the All Saints Bookstore
Review by Lillie Ammann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This book is part devotional and part Bible study. Each of the 100 meditations focuses on a verse or so from Colossians, and the same verse may be addressed in several consecutive meditations. I marked a number of sentences that particularly spoke to me as I read this as part of my Lenten devotions.
