Monday, March 12, 2018
Monday, March 12, 2018
Commemoration of Gregory the Great, 344
Commemoration of Symeon the New Theologian, 1022 (Orthodox)
Reading: John 3:14-21
“And just as Moses lifted up
the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up." (John 3:14)
In the Weimar
Altarpiece by Lucas Cranach the Elder and the Younger, the Crucifixion of
Christ has central place. In the background one sees the Bronze Serpent and the
suffering people of Israel. Martin Luther, standing in the foreground next to
the cross, holds a Bible and points to a melded text of John 3:14, 1 John 1:7a
and, finally, Hebrews 4:16: "Let us then approach the throne of grace with
confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of
need." Luther was initially very much against images in the churches,
finding them too associated with what he considered to be the waywardness of
the church of Rome in his time. But as paintings and liturgical furnishings and
many beautiful artistic works began to be destroyed all across Europe, he
changed his mind, writing: "When I
hear of the Passion of Christ, it is impossible for me not to make images of
this in my heart…why then should it be sinful to see it before my eyes?"
May we approach you with
confidence, O God, knowing you will help in time of need. Amen
- Memorize a hymn. listen to Bach Cantata BWV 68, “Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt.”
