Worship as Mission

Devotional Reflection, Thursday, February 23, 2023

The first Thursday in Lent

The Rev. David W. Perkins,Th.D.

Worship as Mission

Key verses for reflection from today’s Gospel reading:

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! . . . .

34And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.’

You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 950)

AM Psalm 37:1-18; PM Psalm 37:19-42   

Deut. 7:6-11; Titus 1:1-16; John 1:29-34

Today we celebrate the Feast of William Mayo and Charles Menninger and sons.. (See below.)

David's Reflections

What could John possibly have meant by "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."?  In the context of John's Gospel, the phrase seems to refer to forgiveness and cleansing from sin.  Yet, the Passover Lamb of Exodus was a means of deliverance and not a means of forgiveness.  The warrior-lamb of Revelation offers the image of the lamb as deliverer.

The words in verse 29 may be a combining of the deliverance and freedom made possible by the sacrifice of the Passover lamb and the suffering servant of Isaiah 53 who is led as a lamb to slaughter (53:7) and whose undeserved suffering and innocent death is a means of forgiveness for the sinful (Isa. 53:11-12).  The early church came to see the Christ’s suffering as a Passover effecting deliverance from sin (1 Corinthians 5:7 - "Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.")

Those words are the most commonly recited anthem at the breaking of bread in Holy Eucharist.  The priest says:  "Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us."  The people respond:  "Therefore, let us keep the feast."

In Holy Eucharist, the church prays for Spirit to bring Christ's presence to the bread and wine.  We enter into sacred time, not measured by clocks, and the powerful fruits of Christ's death become present in our experience through Christ’s real presence in bread and wine--forgiveness, reconciliation to God and others, the presence and power of the Spirit of Christ nurturing, renewing.  healing, and delivering us. As Neil Alexander, my prof at Sewanee and later my bishop in Atlanta, put it, the Eucharist is a miracle of time.

You may remember the words in Prayer C in The Book of Common Prayer that give expression to this perspective. “Deliver us from the presumption of coming to this Table for solace only and not for strength; for pardon only and not for renewal. Let the grace of this Holy Communion make us one body, one spirit in Christ that we may worthily serve the world in his name.” (BCP, 372).

What a powerful presentation of the good news of salvation!  People without faith can be brought to faith and to their first experience of Christ's saving love at Holy Communion.  I know of people who actually became believers even though they did not actually receive Communion. One friend only came to the table to receive a blessing from the priest, but in that moment awakened to faith in Christ.  Others have actually braved receiving communion, although unbaptized, and came to faith.  (See Sarah Miles’s book, Take This Bread, for one such story of conversion through communion.) We can create space for such transformations without overturning the tradition of font first then table.

To put it another way, we engage in mission when we worship.  Worship does not prepare us for mission, thus serving an instrumental role. Rather, we assemble to worship in public with boundaries permeable to those outside the community of faith.  In worship, we not only praise God and celebrate our salvation, but we also proclaim that salvation to the world.  We join John in saying to all, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”

Collect of the Day, The Last Sunday after the Epiphany

This Proper is always used on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday

O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (BCP, 217)

Today we celebrate the Feast of William Mayo (died 6 Mar 1911 CE) and Charles Menninger (died 28 Nov 1953 CE) and their sons, pioneers in medicine.

http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/mayo_menninger.htm

Collect of the Feast of William Mayo and Charles Menninger

Divine Physician, we bless your Name for the work and witness of the Mayos and the Menningers, and the revolutionary developments that they brought to the practice of medicine. As Jesus went about healing the sick as a sign of the reign of God come near, bless and guide all those inspired to the work of healing by your Holy Spirit, that they may follow his example for the sake of your kingdom and the health of your people; through the same Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Collect for the Thursday after Ash Wednesday

Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with your most gracious favor, and further us with your continual help; that in all our works begun continued, and ended in you, we may glorify your holy Name, and finally, by your mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Holy Women, Holy Men, p. 33)

A Collect for Guidance

O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people;  Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (BCP 100)

A Collect for the Presence of Christ

Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of your love. Amen.  (BCP, 124)

Of the Holy Eucharist  (Especially suitable for Thursdays)

God our Father, whose Son our Lord Jesus Christ in a wonderful Sacrament has left us a memorial of his passion:  Grant us so to venerate the sacred mysteries of his Body and Blood, that we may ever perceive within ourselves the fruit of his redemption; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (BCP, 252)

A Collect for Mission

Everliving God, whose will it is that all should come to you through your Son Jesus Christ: Inspire our witness to him, that all may know the power of his forgiveness and the hope of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (BCP, 816-817)

Daily Office Gospel, John 1.29-24,

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30This is he of whom I said, “After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.” 31I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.’ 32And John testified, ‘I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.” 34And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.’

Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer

Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer

Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer

Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer

Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer

Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer

Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer