September 14th, 2006 at 8:26 pm
Previously in this series we covered prayers for the holy Lamb of God to have mercy on us and prayers for the church.
I was recently reminded (thanks, Rose, and Pastor Weedon) that not only do we pray for things yet to happen but things that he already gives us. We ask for the things already given for us so that we recognize where they came from in the first place. I find it harder to remember to pray for the things that are seemingly in my control than the things that aren’t, even though the things that are in my control could be removed from me without warning. So yes, Lord, have mercy on us, even as you have forgiven us and saved us from destruction.
Old Testament or First Reading
There is some interesting trivia regarding the First Reading. Wikipedia says that the First Reading in the Roman Mass is not from the Old Testament during the first eight weeks of Easter. Our own Historic Lectionary Online Project (http://sanctus.org) has an Old Testament reading for every Sunday, yet the Lutheran Divine Service leaves open the possibility of a non-OT First Reading. Seminarian Lehmann informs me that the Old Testament reading is a Vatican II innovation.
Gradual or Psalm
The Gradual is part of the Proper, the part of the liturgy that changes each Sunday. It is often a responsive psalm. Today’s Gradual is usually just two psalm verses, but graduals were longer and sung by the pastor with the congregation singing a response after each line. It is the oldest of all the chants in the Mass and can be sung by pastor, choir, or congregation today.
Epistle or Second Reading
The Epistle (from the Greek for “letter”) is taken from the New Testament books except for the four Synoptic Gospels. It’s usually from a letter written to a congregation that teaches a theological point.
Both the Old Testament and the Epistle are concluded with the reader singing “This is the Word of the Lord,” and the congregation following, “Thanks be to God.” Thanks, indeed, for his Word.
Alleluia and Verse
The Alleluia can be a responsive chant, as back when I sang it last month at Memorial. We sang Alleluia three times, then my single line solo, then the triple Alleluia again. The Alleluia is omitted during Lent so that we can belt it out at Easter again.
Holy Gospel
Perhaps someone can tell me why we address the Gospel as the “Holy Gospel,” but we don’t call the other readings holy. 
Pastor Petersen at Cyberstones gives us this nugget about the Holy Gospel:
The reading of the Gospel is traditionally (aka: the Liber) as: “The continuation of the Holy Gospel according to St. ……….” There are only two exceptions. When the end of St. Mark’s Gospel is read on Easter Sunday the announcement is: “The conclusion of the Holy Gospel according to St. Mark” and when John 1 is read on Christmas day it is announced: “The beginning of the Holy Gospel according to St. John.” The Gospel begins on Christmas Day (not Christmas Eve). It ends on Easter Sunday. I don’t know exactly why, but I love that. I love that small, subtle change on Christmas Day, that singular honor and ceremony that belongs to it alone. In the LCMS, of course, you won’t hear this many places. The announcement of the Gospel is unique in American Lutheranism. it is formulated differently in TLH & LW than the rest of Christendom.
Next time we will cover that nemesis of Rick Warren, The Creed. Maybe that will be enough. We will see.
