Monthly Column

Dear Members and Friends of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church,

The season of Lent is once again upon us and perennially the question is asked as to what it is all about. Yes, it is forty days long—excluding Sundays—in commemoration of the 40 days our Lord and Savior Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness. Yes, it begins with Ash Wednesday and culminates with services on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday. Yes, traditionally it involves practices of self-denial (giving up things for Lent!), devotional focus on the suffering of Jesus for our sin, and extra weekly worship services.

A lesser well-known aspect of the season of Lent is preparation for baptism. In the ancient church, adults who had made a confession of faith in Jesus Christ would be instructed in the Christian faith throughout the season of Lent to prepare for their baptisms on Holy Saturday. That is why the Holy Saturday service focuses in and centers around baptism. The new birth of baptism would coincide with the celebration of the resurrection of the First Born from the dead, Jesus Christ!

This being so, one aspect of Lent, an important aspect, is instruction in the basics of the Christian faith. And that is instruction for everyone! So in this year’s Lenten midweek services, we will delve into the basics of the celebration of the Lord’s Supper.

Why the Lord’s Supper? Well, first of all, the celebration of the Lord’s Supper is one of the two central focal points of Christian worship! The first is the hearing of the Word of God. The second is the celebration of the Lord Supper. Why? Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ said simply: “Do this, in remembrance of me” (Lk. 22:19). For it is the Lord’s Supper that is the “New Testament” in His blood (Lk. 22:20; 1 Cor. 11:25). And so “As often as we eat this bread and drink the cup we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes” (1 Cor. 11:26).

Our confirmation instruction was all about preparing to take part in the New Testament, that is, to receive the Lord’s Supper in a worthy fashion. In order to do that, we learned the Ten Commandments—what God would have us do and not do; the Apostle’s Creed—who Christ is and what He has done for us; the Lord’s Prayer—how to pray; the sacrament of Holy Baptism—what happened to us when we were baptized; and confession and absolution—how to spiritually examine ourselves. And lastly we were taught about the Lord’s Supper.

But a lot has happened in our lives since we were confirmed! Not only have we taken part in the Lord’s Supper frequently, but we have also heard all sorts of things about it, wondered about it, and had questions about it.

So it deserves our attention. On Ash Wednesday we will learn about how the Lord’s Supper is a life-giving fruit. And then on the successive Wednesdays of Lent, how it is bread from heaven, healing medicine, a blest communion, rest for the weary, a nuptial feast, and a covenant meal.

Please take time this Lenten season to take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about and grow deeper in your understanding of the Lord’s Supper.

Your Servant in Christ,

Pastor Strawn