Sant Crux, Lucia, Cineres, Charismata Dia
Ut sit in angaria quarta sequens feria.

Which for those of us who don’t think in Latin:

Holy Cross, Lucy, Ash Wednesday, Pentecost,
are when the quarter holidays follow.

This coming Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday (2/24, 26, and 27) are the Lenten Ember Days. Oh, want to know more about Ember Days? Check out What are Ember Days?

And these propers are supplied by the Brotherhood Prayer Book:

He Was Crucified from CPH

Ember Wednesday:

Morning Prayer – Matthew 12:38-50
Evening Prayer – 1 Kings 19:3-8

V. God shall give His angels charge over thee.
R. To keep thee in all thy ways.

Antiphon for Benedictus:
An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign: and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas.

Antiphon for Magnificat:
For as Jonas was three days and nights in the whale’s belly, so shall the Son of Man be in the earth.

Collect:
We beseech Thee O Lord that Thou wouldest graciously hear our prayers, and stretch forth the right hand of Thy majesty to be our defence against all adversities; through Jesus Christ…

Ember Friday:

Morning Prayer – John 5:1-15
Evening Prayer – Ezekiel 18:20-28

V. God shall give His angels charge over thee.
R. To keep thee in all thy ways.

Antiphon for Benedictus:
An angel of the Lord went down from heaven and troubled the waters; and whosoever did step therein was made whole.

Antiphon for Magnificat:
He that me whole, the same said unto me: Take up thy bed and go in peace.

Collect:
We beseech Thee, O Lord: mercifully to have compassion on Thy people, that they, which by Thee are enabled to serve Thee, may ever be comforted by Thy gracious and ready help; through Jesus Christ…

Ember Saturday:

Morning Prayer – Matthew 17:1-9
Evening Prayer – 1 Thessalonians 5:14-23

V. God shall give His angels charge over thee.
R. To keep thee in all thy ways.

Antiphon for Benedictus:
And Jesus taketh his disciples, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart: and was transfigured before them.

Antiphon for Magnificat:
Tell the vision which ye have seen to no man: until the Son of Man be risen again from the dead.

Collect:
We beseech Thee O Lord: graciously to hear the prayers of Thy people, and of Thy great goodness turn aside from them the scourges of Thine anger; through Jesus Christ…

Treasury of Daily Prayer

Users of Treasury of Daily Prayer will need to make the Great Skip in preparation for devotions on February 17th, Ash Wednesday. With the beginning of Lent, the Daily Lectionary changes from using calendar dates to using liturgical days. This handily accommodates the changeable dates of the festival half of the Church Year, which are all based on the date of Easter.

So, long story short: February 17th, move your bookmark from the back of Treasury to page 24 in the front. And then carry on.

(There is another Lesser Skip that happens at the conclusion of the Season after Easter, but well remind you about that in May.)

“In speaking of Lent it is difficult to avoid the word “fasting,” which is misunderstood and regarded with disfavor by many. Yet it cannot be ignored or disregarded, for both the historic Epistle (Joel 2:12-19) and the Gospel (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21) for Ash Wednesday speak of it, and Luther’s Small Catechism brings us face to face with the term (Sacrament of the Altar: Who receives this sacrament worthily?). Surely it is to be preferred to “keeping Lent.” For practical purposes fasting may be defined as the avoidance of anything that could interfere with, distract from, or disturb in the preparations for the new life with the risen Christ. This may call for a restriction in diet as excessive eating or drinking may cause dullness and apathy which are far from conducive to a searching self-examination and to resolute spiritual life. On the other hand, should the one who has determined to fast in such a way confine his dietary limitations to Lent and return to his old habits when at Easter he rises with Christ to a new life?

“A number of questions arise also regarding the fad of “keeping Lent.” Does such “keeper” of Lent smoke so heavily,” drink so heavily, consume excessive amounts of recreation, or work such lengthy hours, “that his or her indulgence interferes with the preparations for the new life in Christ? If so, is he or she to resume his or her excess when at Easter the new life begins? The same applies to” any of the excessive habits or our lives. “Whatever is done, or not done, in observance of Lent has value and purpose only if it serves to prepare and train for the newness of life, for the new life to be entered at Easter with the risen Christ.

“Lent is a time in which God’s people prepare with joy for the paschal feast (Easter). It is a time in which God renews His people’s zeal in faith and life. It is a time in which we pray that we may be given the fullness of grace that belongs to the children of God” (The Sermon and the Propers:Volume II, 45-46),

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, it is with humble and contrite hearts that we enter this day the holy season of Lent to meditate on Your bitter suffering and death that you, the innocent Lamb of God, endured for us. With deep sorrow we confess that also our sins, which justly anger God and call for our punishment. were the cause of Your suffering and dying. God chose to spare us by laying upon you the iniquity of us all.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Be gracious to us.
Spare us, good Lord. Amen.

So, long story short: February 25th, move your bookmark from the back of Treasury to page 24 in the front. And then carry on.

(There is another Lesser Skip that happens at the conclusion of the Season after Easter, but well remind you about that in June.)

On the last Sunday after the Epiphany, the Gospel appointed for Transfiguration shows us a glimpse of Christ’s reality, a reality seldom seen on this side of eternity. The God-Man Jesus, who in complete submission to the Father left the glory of heaven and humbled himself to be born in the flesh, blood, and bone of man; the Christ of God who, through his life, teaching, and miracles gives glory to the Father, stands before the disciples—and us—fully displayed in his own divine glory and majesty. And with him are the icons of the Law and the Prophets: Moses who was secretly buried by God at his death, and Elijah who did not die, but was taken by God into heaven. And Jesus is having a conversation with them.

It is exactly the fact that Jesus, Moses, and Elijah were having this conversation that has led to the liturgical placement of the Transfiguration as the final Gospel of Epiphany. Epiphany as a feast and as a season is about the revelation of God in Christ. First in the story of the magi from the east—signifying the revelation of the Messiah beyond the tribes and people of Israel. Then his baptism is celebrated not only marking the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry, but also revealing him as the Son of God anointed for his work and blessed by the Father. The Gospels for the Sundays that follow present the revelation of God through the preaching, teaching, miracles, healing, and the announcement of the forgiveness of sins, that Jesus performed during his three-year ministry. On the mountain of the Transfiguration, not only is the full divine glory of Jesus revealed, but there is this holy conversation about Jesus’ exodus, his departure, in other words his coming suffering and death, which is the ultimate revelation of God.

This mountain-top conversation must be the continuation of the conversation of heaven: the plan of God for the salvation of man and the means by which Jesus would work out that merciful plan. The heavenly hosts—the angels and the whole community of saints—waited in eager expectation for the working-out of the timeless plan of the Father in time, but that does not mean they necessarily waited in silence. The heavenly conversation, now glimpsed at on the mountain of Transfiguration was about Jesus’ departure, the conversation was about the Passion to come, the conversation was about the awesome reality that holy justice required the ultimate payment, the conversation was most certainly about the Son of God paying the price for sin: the death of the Son as the all-sufficient sacrifice.

As much as the disciples wanted to, they could not remain on the mountain. Too soon Moses and Elijah were gone, the glory of the almighty Son was again hidden, and the glimpse of the Lord’s reality—a reality that confirmed the promise of God for a life after death—was gone. None record it, but the descent down the mountain was probably fraught with emotion, and the memory of what the disciples had seen likely sparked contemplation and conversation, and prepared them for the hard days soon to come.

We too cannot stay on the mountain of Christmas, Epiphany, and Transfiguration. Certainly the most ancient and most joyous season of the Church Year is yet to come, but between these two great liturgical mountains is the hard wilderness, the penitential valley of Lent. The Sundays of Gesimatide provide a deliberate descent during which we can contemplate both the mountaintop experience above and the coming wilderness journey below. It is an opportunity to gradually adjust to the change in altitude and the change in attitude. Septuagesima (70-some days before Easter), Sexagesima (60-some days before Easter), Quinquagesima (50-some days before Easter) are the angel-like hands of the Church Year that would keep us from dashing our feet against the stony pavement of Lent.

Septuagesima

O Lord, graciously hear the prayers of Your people that we who justly suffer the consequence of our sin may be mercifully delivered by Your goodness to the glory of Your name; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (L18)

Exodus 17:1–7
Psalm 95:1–9 (v. 6)
1 Corinthians 9:24—10:5
Matthew 20:1–16

Sexagesima

O God, the strength of all who put their trust in You, mercifully grant that by Your power we may be defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (L19)

Isaiah 55:10–13
Psalm 84 (v. 4)
2 Corinthians 11:19—12:9
Luke 8:4–15

Quinquagesima

O Lord, mercifully hear our prayers and having set us free from the bonds of our sins deliver us from every evil; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (L20)

1 Samuel 16:1–13
Psalm 89:18–29 (v. 20)
1 Corinthians 13:1–13
Luke 18:31–43

Let us pray: Lord God, heavenly Father, look with favor upon us your children, forgive us all our sins, and comfort us with the promise of resurrection to life everlasting; through your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Hymn “Who Trusts in God a Strong Abode”; Lutheran Worship 413

Who trusts in God a strong abode

In heaven and earth possesses;

Who looks in love to Christ above,

No fear that heart oppresses.

In you alone, dear Lord, we own

Sweet hope and consolation,

Our shield from foes, our balm for woes,

Our great and sure salvation.

Though Satan’s wrath beset our path

And worldly scorn assail us,

While you are near, we shall not fear;

Your strength will never fail us.

Your rod and staff will keep us safe

And guide our steps forever;

Nor shades of death nor hell beneath,

Our lives from you will sever.

In all the strife of mortal life

Our feet will stand securely;

Temptation’s hour will lose it power,

For you will guard us surely.

Our God, renew with heavenly dew

Our body, soul, and spirit

Until we stand at your right hand

Through Jesus’ saving merit.

Message

The season of preparation has begun. Easter is 46 days away. Today is Ash Wednesday. I am reminded the FUNERAL SERVICE when the body is committed to its resting place: “We no commit his body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.”

A form of those words are spoken for the very first time in the garden of Eden, after Adam and Eve eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God says to them – “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are

and to dust you will return.” (Genesis 3:19)

Remember, O Man, that you are dust. From dust you came. To dust you shall return.

Dust to dust, ashes to ashes. A stark reminder of from whence we arose and to whence, all other factors being equal, we shall return. We are by nature and deed – a walking, talking, thinking, doing dust bags.

There is not much value in dust and ashes. In fact it is often less than worthless – it is a hindrance and a liability. You can’t make it pretty by painting it, or smell good by spraying perfume on it. Dust is dust, ashes are ashes – and the plain fact is they both are largely to be avoided.

And that is us too. When all is said and done – our righteousness is like rags upon us; our virtue is but a spray of perfume upon thoughts, feelings, and deeds that are best buried and forgotten.

Ash Wednesday presents us with our own funeral; the inescapable fact that we will die. The inescapable fact of what we are.

But “Listen, I [will] tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor15:51-57)

It is Ash Wednesday, and while we gather to remember who we are, we also gather to remember who God is – and what God has done for us in and through Jesus.

We gather – because – all other factors are not equal.

God has given us a way out of our plight of “ashes to ashes, dust to dust”. It is the way of the Cross. The death of Jesus was God’s way of placing infinite value upon that which would otherwise be worthless. Today it is for us to know and realize that God has chosen to give us some other life than that which leads to the dust heap and the ash pit. In the cross God gives us the life of His Son Jesus.

Remember, O Man, that you are dust. From dust you came. To dust you shall return. And by the Grace of God in Christ Jesus, from dust you shall rise!

Having put us to death with His Law, God raises us to faith and life in Christ with His Gospel. Therefore standing on the threshold of Lent we look forward with expectation of the Coming Day when the transient nature of this world and our own declining dustiness will be taken up by the God of Grace who would not see us abandoned to the grave.

“I am the resurrection and the life” [says Jesus]. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)

Remember, O Man, that you are dust. From dust you have come. To dust you shall return. And by the Grace of God in Christ Jesus, from dust you shall rise! Let our eyes and faith fix upon Him and not be moved. For He has taken up our dustiness, died our death, and His Life is ours. This is the heritage of all those who believes in Him.

Let us pray:

God of all grace, you sent your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, to bring life and immortality to light. We give you thanks that by his death he destroyed the power of death and by his resurrection opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Strengthen us in the confidence that because he lives we shall live also and that neither death nor life nor things present nor things to come will separate us from your love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now, and forever. 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 and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty. From thence he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Heavenly Father you have graciously provided for your people by the establishment of the church, the preaching of the Gospel and the administration of the Sacraments. Protect and strengthen all those who put their hand to any good work in your church, Pastors ___________; Teachers and commissioned ministers ____________; the congregations of _____________ as well as the work of __________ District and __________________. Grant that, as it be your will, the words and actions of those who toil in your name witness faithfully to the Gospel by which we have been saved.

Lord in your mercy; hear our prayer.

God of all comfort, keep the weak and the infirm, the lonely and those in dispare under your caring wing. Especially do we remember ___________ and all those who are being persecuted on account of your Son, especially our Lutheran brothers and sisters in Haiti

Amen.

Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Hymn “Christ Is the World’s Redeemer”; LW271

Christ is the world’s Redeemer,

The lover of the pure,

The font of heavenly wisdom,

Our trust and hope secure,

The armor of his soldiers

The Lord of earth and sky,

Our health while we are living,

Our life when we shall die.

Christ has our host surrounded

With clouds of martyrs bright,

Who wave their palms in triumph

And fire us for the fight.

Then Christ the cross ascended

To save a world undone

And, suffering for sinful,

Our full redemption won.

Down in the realm of darkness

He lay, a captive bound,

But at the hour appointed

He rose, a victor crowned.

And now, to heaven ascended,

He sits upon the throne

Whence he had never departed,

His Father’s and his own.

Glory to God the Father,

The unbegotten One,

All honor be to Jesus,

His sole begotten Son;

And to the Holy Spirit,

The perfect Trinity,

Let all the worlds give answer,

Amen so let it be.

The Lord bless us, defend us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.