Larry Devich
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
The Rosary?
In the past I have used a Rosary to pray and meditate. Of late I have not used one for some reason. I am thinking I would like to meditate with one again but I'm not sure if it's "allowed" or not. My rebellious streak says, "Of course you can do it! Who has the right to tell you not to?" While at the same time I have the idea that maybe I ought to ask the Pastor if it's a good thing or not.
I did find a "Lutheran Rosary" on line. As far as I can tell there is no direct heresy there, although the one place where it seems to address the Virgin Mary makes me a bit uncomfortable, even though that is attributed to Martin Luther!
I guess what I'll do is check it out with the Pastor after all. ¶ 8/16/2006 08:54:00 AM 0 Comments
In the past I have used a Rosary to pray and meditate. Of late I have not used one for some reason. I am thinking I would like to meditate with one again but I'm not sure if it's "allowed" or not. My rebellious streak says, "Of course you can do it! Who has the right to tell you not to?" While at the same time I have the idea that maybe I ought to ask the Pastor if it's a good thing or not.I did find a "Lutheran Rosary" on line. As far as I can tell there is no direct heresy there, although the one place where it seems to address the Virgin Mary makes me a bit uncomfortable, even though that is attributed to Martin Luther!
I guess what I'll do is check it out with the Pastor after all. ¶ 8/16/2006 08:54:00 AM 0 Comments
Wednesday in the 10th Week of Pentecost - Commemoration of Isaac
Daily Readings
Joshua 8:30-35
Romans 14:13-23
Matthew 26:57-68
Morning and Evening Psalms
79, 80 81-83
Higher Things Commemoration of Isaac:
“So Abraham called the name of that place, ‘The Lord will provide;’ as it is said to this day, ‘On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.’” (Genesis 22:14)
Poor Isaac! Of the time we spend teaching about the Patriarchs in Genesis, it seems we almost gloss over Isaac. We hear of the miraculous birth of this “son of promise” and how his father almost sacrificed him, and we’re ready to skip to Jacob! But what about this sacrifice? This is no laughing matter. This is a great moment in Church history, when God foreshadowed His sacrifice – His Son!
“The Lamb, the Lamb, O Father, where’s the sacrifice?” (HS 98 #822) echoes the hymn. The youth for whom Abraham had waited 100 years was asking a question that cut his father to the core. Isaac knew something was wrong. It was highly irregular to make a sacrifice without the victim to provide the blood.
Intuition aside, Isaac continued on this journey. Likely, he had an idea of what was going to happen. Yet he willingly goes along with the elderly man he could possibly have overcome. He asks no further questions, but follows his father. Of course, the Lord showed Abraham the faith He had given him, then provided a ram to shed his innocent blood so that Isaac might be spared.
Although it no longer went by the name “Moriah,” amazingly, the location of this sacrifice would lie on the outskirts of Jerusalem some 2000 years later. It was then known as “The Place of the Skull”, Golgotha, Calvary. There the Seed of Abraham and Isaac – the ultimate Son of Promise – would be led to the slaughter. ”God will provide the Lamb of price.” There, the Lord provided the Once-and-for-all Substitute Sacrifice – the Lamb of God shed His innocent blood that we might be spared.
The sacrifice of Isaac is a wonderful reminder of what was to come. There is a painting depicting Isaac laid out on the altar. But instead of his hands bound together, they are bound stretched out, in the shape of a cross. This is an image worth cherishing, as we ponder how it foreshadows the Lamb that God provided! ¶ 8/16/2006 08:46:00 AM 0 Comments
Joshua 8:30-35
Romans 14:13-23
Matthew 26:57-68
Morning and Evening Psalms
79, 80 81-83
Higher Things Commemoration of Isaac:
“So Abraham called the name of that place, ‘The Lord will provide;’ as it is said to this day, ‘On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.’” (Genesis 22:14)
Poor Isaac! Of the time we spend teaching about the Patriarchs in Genesis, it seems we almost gloss over Isaac. We hear of the miraculous birth of this “son of promise” and how his father almost sacrificed him, and we’re ready to skip to Jacob! But what about this sacrifice? This is no laughing matter. This is a great moment in Church history, when God foreshadowed His sacrifice – His Son!
“The Lamb, the Lamb, O Father, where’s the sacrifice?” (HS 98 #822) echoes the hymn. The youth for whom Abraham had waited 100 years was asking a question that cut his father to the core. Isaac knew something was wrong. It was highly irregular to make a sacrifice without the victim to provide the blood.
Intuition aside, Isaac continued on this journey. Likely, he had an idea of what was going to happen. Yet he willingly goes along with the elderly man he could possibly have overcome. He asks no further questions, but follows his father. Of course, the Lord showed Abraham the faith He had given him, then provided a ram to shed his innocent blood so that Isaac might be spared.
Although it no longer went by the name “Moriah,” amazingly, the location of this sacrifice would lie on the outskirts of Jerusalem some 2000 years later. It was then known as “The Place of the Skull”, Golgotha, Calvary. There the Seed of Abraham and Isaac – the ultimate Son of Promise – would be led to the slaughter. ”God will provide the Lamb of price.” There, the Lord provided the Once-and-for-all Substitute Sacrifice – the Lamb of God shed His innocent blood that we might be spared.
The sacrifice of Isaac is a wonderful reminder of what was to come. There is a painting depicting Isaac laid out on the altar. But instead of his hands bound together, they are bound stretched out, in the shape of a cross. This is an image worth cherishing, as we ponder how it foreshadows the Lamb that God provided! ¶ 8/16/2006 08:46:00 AM 0 Comments
