Congregation at Prayer

Catechesis Notes for the Week — The Week of Laetare— “Rejoice…”—The Latin title for this week in Lent is “Laetare” which means “rejoice”. It is taken from the Introit for the Sunday, “Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all you who love her.” Whenever we encounter references to the city of Jerusalem within the psalter, we may safely apply the references to the Church today. So, Isaiah and David in this week’s introit are calling us to “rejoice with the church of Jesus Christ and be glad with her. We love the church because it is the place of our Lord’s saving presence. By Word and Sacrament the church is the dispenser of Christ’s saving gifts. We are glad to enter into the congregation of the faithful to receive His gifts and we pray for the Church’s peace and safety.

Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all you who love her;

that you may feed and be satisfied with the consolation of her bosom.

I was glad when they said to me,

“Let us go into the house of the Lord.”

Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:

“May they prosper who love you.”

For the sake of my brethren and companions,

I will now say, “Peace be with- | in you.”

(Isaiah 66:10a, 11a; Ps. 122:1-2, 6, 8)

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Catechesis Notes for the Week — The Week of Oculi— “My Eyes Are Ever toward the Lord”—The Latin title for this week in Lent is “Oculi” which means “eyes”. It is taken from the Introit for the Sunday, “My eyes are ever toward the Lord.” During the pain, suffering, sin, and afflictions of our life—some of our own making and some through no fault of our own—faith turns to the Lord and cries out to Him for rescue, forgiveness, and peace:

My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for He shall pluck my feet out of the net.

Turn Yourself to me, and have mercy on me, for I am desolate and afflicted.

To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in You;

let me not be ashamed; let not my enemies triumph over me.

The troubles of my heart have enlarged; bring me out of my distresses!

Look on my affliction and my pain, and forgive all my sins.

Keep my soul, and deliver me; let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You.

(Ps. 25:15-16, 1-2, 17-18, 20)         CP220320

Catechesis Notes for the Week — Psalm 150: A Call to Praise the Lord—Psalm 150 concludes the psalter with a call to praise the Lord—the eternal God of the promise of salvation. This praise of the Lord is rooted in His saving grace proclaimed in the Gospel of Christ and celebrated by all of creation. The song of praise begins in the church, the mouth-house of the Gospel, and extends throughout creation from the sanctuary to the mighty firmament. Every instrument is called upon to give all glory and honor to God—trumpet, lute, harp, timbrel, dance, stringed instruments, flutes, and cymbals. All the known instruments of the ancient world were employed in the service of the Lord. Finally, the psalm concludes with the simple, yet profound call to all: “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” All living things are creatures dependent upon Him! He is both the Creator and Savior! All glory to the Lord! Praise the Lord! It is in the Lord’s praise that we find our peace and contentment, hope and optimism for the future.

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Catechesis Notes for the Week — Psalm 149: A Call to Worship—Psalm 149 is a call to worship. We are to praise the Lord for all His acts of salvation. We are to sing to the Lord a new song—which is the song of grace, mercy, and forgiveness in Christ. It is not the old song of works righteousness and self-justification. Every reference in the psalm to Israel and the saints can be interpreted for us today as referring to the Church and all faithful believers in Christ (the saints). We praise the Lord and sing the new song of salvation because He delights in His Church and beautifies us with His righteousness that covers all our sin. The two-edged sword is a reference to the Word of God. The Law condemns, crucifies, judges, and, therefore, calls to repentance. The Gospel proclaims the judgment of God’s righteousness, which is the honor and glory of all His saints.

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