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READINGS FROM HOLY SCRIPTURE:
Jeremiah 23:5-8
Romans 13:11-14
- St. Matthew 21:1-9
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord
Jesus Christ.
Who speaks to us on this first Sunday of the new Church Year, through His Gospel, shouting:
St. Matthew will repeat this song just a few verses on, in his Gospel, when he records even the children singing: “But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant” (Mt 21:15).
From this we believe that the children were singing Hosanna along with the adults. God wants us to believe that we will also praise Him with song and should be glad and joyful that such beauty and wonder are given to us by grace, in music. Jesus gives us song, hymn, chant, and ballad to praise His glory and to please our bodies and souls, and we should not reject such gifts.
I put it to you today that these people were singing to Jesus, as He rode on in majesty, though the Gospel says “shouting”. Singing because “Hosanna” is a liturgical word. That means that it was mainly used in the Service at the Temple and thus was sung.
A second note to note is the parallel between Palm Sunday and Advent. Jesus is riding on in majesty to His crucifixion, but His majesty begins when He is made man. Thus, at His conception by the Holy Spirit, He rides to the Virgin’s womb, moving to His birth and His work of salvation for all men.
The Church repeats this reading, in order that you get it. Much as our entire Church Year of Sunday readings does, it repeats. And this repetition is the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous. Not because God is boring, but because He is merciful.
Repetition is the mother of memory. The simple tunes of the Church’s hymns and chants get stuck in your head whether you want them to or not. The words we chant during Service are often scripture themselves, so you will find yourself grateful to be able to recite Mary’s song after learning she will bear the Savior of humanity, or Zechariah’s song after finding out who his son will be. You also learn by default beautiful prayers passed down in the Church through the centuries.
We demand that our children repeat the lessons we teach them, whether its 123s, ABCs, or instructions given on important matters, like “stop hitting your sister”.
Why do we demand so little of ourselves?
Blessed Dr. Luther says, “I place music next to theology and give it the highest praise. We see how David and all the saints put their pious thoughts into verse, rhyme, and songs because music reigns in times of Peace” (God the Father be our Stay; What Luther says, 980:3091)
“the [Church] fathers want nothing more closely linked to God’s Word, than music. From this arise so many hymns and psalms in which the music and singing act upon the heart of the hearer at the same time” (Savior of the nations come; What Luther says, 982:3103)
“This is the reason why the prophets practiced music more than any art and did not put their theology into geometry, arithmetic, or astronomy, but into music. They united theology and music, telling [God’s own] truth in psalms and songs” (In the very midst of life; AE 49:426-28; What Luther says, 983:3104).
Back to our Gospel reading, the crowd was singing part, probably all, of Psalm 118. A song of the Temple Service that hasn’t changed since King David wrote it, a thousand years before Jesus. Quite the survival time…
In its ancient Jewish context, Psalm 118 was most likely an entrance liturgy to the Temple, used at the festival of Passover. Today, it is fulfilled as the Passover Lamb of God marches to His crucifixion, but first, for us beginning Advent, to His mother’s womb, where He will emerge triumphantly as God in the flesh.
Repent. We would rather sing worldly songs, than the songs of God. We would rather find comfort in the bloated-ness of saccharine melody on modern radios, than in the depths of Jesus’s Wisdom. What we demand from our children, we excuse ourselves from and then wonder why so many children are born out of wedlock and our churches continue to empty.
Our songs reflect our theology. Our prayer, our actions in God’s presence all convey a physical message of what we really think of the Lord and His Church. If it is vanity and partying music, then God is a small god of my preference and not a transcendent being, come to do His own work.
Melody carries meaning.
I’m sure you don’t have to think very hard to imagine a song that would be inappropriate in Church. Now, try to separate that song from its melody and you cannot. Melody carries the teaching of the artist as much as the words do. In fact, many songs don’t even have words, yet you can still gain a hefty life lesson from them.
Jesus teaches us of the godliness of song and its power to teach. He says in Colossians that the Word dwells in us richly through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Thus, we should sing with grace in our hearts to the Lord, and confess this Truth to ourselves and our neighbor (Col. 3:16).
He also leads the Apostles in song. On His way to His arrest and scourging, St. Matthew 26 recalls, “And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives” (v.30). Such is the importance of singing to our Savior.
Each time heaven opens, there is song. When Isaiah is high and lifted up at his calling to be a prophet: “Holy Holy Holy” (6:3). When the Christ is born and shepherds need the memo, the angels send a singing telegram: “Glory to God in the highest” (Lk 2:14). And finally, the Lamb Who was slain, comes to open the scroll with seven seals, instituting eternal worship of Him forever, singing “Worthy is the Lamb” (Rev 5:12), at the Last Day.
Singing comes from heaven and is continually done in heaven. When we sing, we sing with heaven’s hosts, if our song confesses as theirs does. That is, Christ Crucified.
As our confessions state:
“Falsely are our churches accused of abolishing the Mass; for the Mass is retained among us, and celebrated with the highest reverence. Nearly all the usual ceremonies are also preserved, save that the parts sung in Latin are interspersed here and there with German hymns, which have been added to teach the people. For ceremonies are needed to this end alone that the unlearned be taught [what they need to know of Christ]” (AC xxiv:1-4)
Every verse, every stanza, and every note is employed to carry the most holy truth that God is found in Christ alone, Who is both God and man. That He has appeared to Peter and all the Apostles. That He did not spurn the Virgin’s womb to be made man and offer Himself in our place, as a sacrifice for sin.
Christ is God, the ancient churches sang, and we do nothing different. The repetition goes on, for memory grows weak and our physical powers wane. The same lessons must be given in fullness. The same songs be sung completely so that nothing is left out and the lesson be complete.
In our sinfulness, how much easier to recite our multiplication table, in praise to the God of mathematics? That just makes more sense. How much simpler to sing “ABCDEFG”, to the Lord of all language? How much more ear-scratchingly pleasing to sing about my truck, my girl, or my poor life, to the Creator Who gives all things?
But Who also takes them away, divides languages, and confounds scientites with His wisdom and knowledge. At this, we must decide whether we sing of the god who is a tyrant, or the God Who rules His kingdom from a manger. To make that decision, we need all the stanzas of correct doctrine or we miss the Savior, as Herod and his soldiers do.
Thus, the Church sings and it will always sing. For a Lutheran hymn aims not to create the right atmosphere or mood for worship, but serves as a vehicle for the Spirit-filled Word of God, that is to teach of Christ. A Lutheran hymn is not entertainment, but proclamation of Christ. A Lutheran hymn is shaped by the theology of the cross of Christ, not our preferences.
A Lutheran hymn is not bound merely to paraphrase the Bible; rather it interprets the Scriptures in reference to Christ alone, for you. For, make no mistake, the world sings its own song and it is not in tune with Jesus. In order to “tune into” Jesus, we must be taught. This is why the same Service and hymns you heard in your mother’s womb, will be the same ones with which Jesus will return for you.
Your songs teach us, O Christ. Grant us hearts to receive them in their fullness!
Who speaks to us on this first Sunday of the new Church Year, through His Gospel, shouting:
“Hosanna to the Son of David!
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest!"
St. Matthew will repeat this song just a few verses on, in his Gospel, when he records even the children singing: “But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant” (Mt 21:15).
From this we believe that the children were singing Hosanna along with the adults. God wants us to believe that we will also praise Him with song and should be glad and joyful that such beauty and wonder are given to us by grace, in music. Jesus gives us song, hymn, chant, and ballad to praise His glory and to please our bodies and souls, and we should not reject such gifts.
I put it to you today that these people were singing to Jesus, as He rode on in majesty, though the Gospel says “shouting”. Singing because “Hosanna” is a liturgical word. That means that it was mainly used in the Service at the Temple and thus was sung.
A second note to note is the parallel between Palm Sunday and Advent. Jesus is riding on in majesty to His crucifixion, but His majesty begins when He is made man. Thus, at His conception by the Holy Spirit, He rides to the Virgin’s womb, moving to His birth and His work of salvation for all men.
The Church repeats this reading, in order that you get it. Much as our entire Church Year of Sunday readings does, it repeats. And this repetition is the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous. Not because God is boring, but because He is merciful.
Repetition is the mother of memory. The simple tunes of the Church’s hymns and chants get stuck in your head whether you want them to or not. The words we chant during Service are often scripture themselves, so you will find yourself grateful to be able to recite Mary’s song after learning she will bear the Savior of humanity, or Zechariah’s song after finding out who his son will be. You also learn by default beautiful prayers passed down in the Church through the centuries.
We demand that our children repeat the lessons we teach them, whether its 123s, ABCs, or instructions given on important matters, like “stop hitting your sister”.
Why do we demand so little of ourselves?
Blessed Dr. Luther says, “I place music next to theology and give it the highest praise. We see how David and all the saints put their pious thoughts into verse, rhyme, and songs because music reigns in times of Peace” (God the Father be our Stay; What Luther says, 980:3091)
“the [Church] fathers want nothing more closely linked to God’s Word, than music. From this arise so many hymns and psalms in which the music and singing act upon the heart of the hearer at the same time” (Savior of the nations come; What Luther says, 982:3103)
“This is the reason why the prophets practiced music more than any art and did not put their theology into geometry, arithmetic, or astronomy, but into music. They united theology and music, telling [God’s own] truth in psalms and songs” (In the very midst of life; AE 49:426-28; What Luther says, 983:3104).
Back to our Gospel reading, the crowd was singing part, probably all, of Psalm 118. A song of the Temple Service that hasn’t changed since King David wrote it, a thousand years before Jesus. Quite the survival time…
In its ancient Jewish context, Psalm 118 was most likely an entrance liturgy to the Temple, used at the festival of Passover. Today, it is fulfilled as the Passover Lamb of God marches to His crucifixion, but first, for us beginning Advent, to His mother’s womb, where He will emerge triumphantly as God in the flesh.
Repent. We would rather sing worldly songs, than the songs of God. We would rather find comfort in the bloated-ness of saccharine melody on modern radios, than in the depths of Jesus’s Wisdom. What we demand from our children, we excuse ourselves from and then wonder why so many children are born out of wedlock and our churches continue to empty.
Our songs reflect our theology. Our prayer, our actions in God’s presence all convey a physical message of what we really think of the Lord and His Church. If it is vanity and partying music, then God is a small god of my preference and not a transcendent being, come to do His own work.
Melody carries meaning.
I’m sure you don’t have to think very hard to imagine a song that would be inappropriate in Church. Now, try to separate that song from its melody and you cannot. Melody carries the teaching of the artist as much as the words do. In fact, many songs don’t even have words, yet you can still gain a hefty life lesson from them.
Jesus teaches us of the godliness of song and its power to teach. He says in Colossians that the Word dwells in us richly through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Thus, we should sing with grace in our hearts to the Lord, and confess this Truth to ourselves and our neighbor (Col. 3:16).
He also leads the Apostles in song. On His way to His arrest and scourging, St. Matthew 26 recalls, “And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives” (v.30). Such is the importance of singing to our Savior.
Each time heaven opens, there is song. When Isaiah is high and lifted up at his calling to be a prophet: “Holy Holy Holy” (6:3). When the Christ is born and shepherds need the memo, the angels send a singing telegram: “Glory to God in the highest” (Lk 2:14). And finally, the Lamb Who was slain, comes to open the scroll with seven seals, instituting eternal worship of Him forever, singing “Worthy is the Lamb” (Rev 5:12), at the Last Day.
Singing comes from heaven and is continually done in heaven. When we sing, we sing with heaven’s hosts, if our song confesses as theirs does. That is, Christ Crucified.
As our confessions state:
“Falsely are our churches accused of abolishing the Mass; for the Mass is retained among us, and celebrated with the highest reverence. Nearly all the usual ceremonies are also preserved, save that the parts sung in Latin are interspersed here and there with German hymns, which have been added to teach the people. For ceremonies are needed to this end alone that the unlearned be taught [what they need to know of Christ]” (AC xxiv:1-4)
Every verse, every stanza, and every note is employed to carry the most holy truth that God is found in Christ alone, Who is both God and man. That He has appeared to Peter and all the Apostles. That He did not spurn the Virgin’s womb to be made man and offer Himself in our place, as a sacrifice for sin.
Christ is God, the ancient churches sang, and we do nothing different. The repetition goes on, for memory grows weak and our physical powers wane. The same lessons must be given in fullness. The same songs be sung completely so that nothing is left out and the lesson be complete.
In our sinfulness, how much easier to recite our multiplication table, in praise to the God of mathematics? That just makes more sense. How much simpler to sing “ABCDEFG”, to the Lord of all language? How much more ear-scratchingly pleasing to sing about my truck, my girl, or my poor life, to the Creator Who gives all things?
But Who also takes them away, divides languages, and confounds scientites with His wisdom and knowledge. At this, we must decide whether we sing of the god who is a tyrant, or the God Who rules His kingdom from a manger. To make that decision, we need all the stanzas of correct doctrine or we miss the Savior, as Herod and his soldiers do.
Thus, the Church sings and it will always sing. For a Lutheran hymn aims not to create the right atmosphere or mood for worship, but serves as a vehicle for the Spirit-filled Word of God, that is to teach of Christ. A Lutheran hymn is not entertainment, but proclamation of Christ. A Lutheran hymn is shaped by the theology of the cross of Christ, not our preferences.
A Lutheran hymn is not bound merely to paraphrase the Bible; rather it interprets the Scriptures in reference to Christ alone, for you. For, make no mistake, the world sings its own song and it is not in tune with Jesus. In order to “tune into” Jesus, we must be taught. This is why the same Service and hymns you heard in your mother’s womb, will be the same ones with which Jesus will return for you.
Your songs teach us, O Christ. Grant us hearts to receive them in their fullness!
