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Isaiah 35


The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God.


Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, "Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you." Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down, the grass shall become reeds and rushes.


And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. (ESV)

Catechism: What? Again?

Thursday of Advent 2

9 December 2010

The children's catechism of the Lutheran Church teaches that Christ possessed a threefold office: prophet, priest, and king. Sometimes this way of looking at the work of Christ is criticized because it seems to be an artificial distinction imposed on the work of Christ. Certainly, the catechism taught to children contains simplifications for pedagogical reasons. While you were taught the catechism as an adolescent in the mists of your ancient past and as important as that catechesis may have been, this leads to the conclusion that you need regular refreshers in the faith.


I am reminded of an elderly woman in a former congregation who, when invited to attend an adult catechism class as a refresher, replied (she really said this!): "Are you saying that what I learned from Pastor Schmid more than fifty years ago wasn't good enough and that I need to attend catechism again?" My reply was pretty simple: "Uh, yes." Her answer itself proved it. By contrast, I recently spoke to a man who told the story of returning to the church after 15 years of spiritual indolence (dare we say unbelief?), who said that he enjoyed being reminded of the substance of the faith that he remembered from his adolescent past. He had many occasions to say, "Ah, I remember that now." He was of the opinion that every Christian should review the basic teachings of the church in catechism instruction for adults every five years. I couldn't agree more.


So while the simplifications of the catechism are good and useful for children and the simple, we continually need upgrading in our understanding and application of the holy faith of the church. When I teach adults the faith, even now, I remind them that the 26 hours of instruction I give them is only a skeletal outline of our teaching, and that what I am giving them needs a lifetime of upgrades as we see how the graciousness of the Lord works out in our lives and as we confess more clearly the faith of the church. Their experience of God's gracious rescue will put meat on the bones of the church's teaching. Through that experience we will see how God's action is always action "for me." In any case, the catechesis of the church is extremely useful. Indeed, she will never survive without it. Her faith will die if it is not passed on to the next generation.


Our catechism does not just pull its teaching out of thin air, either. The Bible is its source and sole touchstone. This is why we see the great biblical teachers of all generations using the same concepts and distinctions that our catechism employs. It is a comfort to catholic believers to see the great teachers of the church, such as Augustine, employing long before our catechism, the same distinctions used by it. He explains beautifully here why Christ is the prophet of prophets. The divine revelation has come to its pinnacle and culmination on the lips of this messenger (Heb 1:1-2). If knowing this is what catechism is, and it is, who would fail to desire to know this?
St. Augustine of Hippo


"The Lord [Christ] is a prophet, and the Lord is God's Word, and no prophet prophesies without the Word of God. The Word of God is with the prophets, and the Word of God is a prophet. The former times obtained prophets inspired and filled by the Word of God. We have obtained the very Word of God for our prophet. But Christ is such a prophet, that He is the Lord of prophets, just as Christ is an angel, the Lord of angels. For He is also called the Angel of great counsel (Is 9:5 LXX). Nevertheless, doesn't the prophet say elsewhere that not an ambassador, nor an angel, but He Himself coming will save them (Is 35:4); that is, He will not send an ambassador to save them, nor an angel, but He Himself will come. Who will come? The Angel himself? Certainly He will not save them by an angel, except that He is such an angel, so as to be also the Lord of angels. For 'angel' means messenger. If Christ brought no message, He could not be called an angel. If Christ prophesied nothing, He would not be called a prophet. He has exhorted us to faith and to laying hold of eternal life. He has proclaimed something present and foretold something future. Because He proclaimed the present, therefore He was an angel or messenger. Because He foretold the future, therefore He was a prophet. Because He is the Word of God made flesh, therefore He is Lord of angels and of prophets.
 
Augustine, Tractates on John, 34.7

Prayer

Almighty God, You have called on us to study Your Word, that we might trust Your work for us and confess You faithfully to the next generation. Give us zeal for such study by Your Holy Spirit and grant fruit to Your Word, as only You can give it.


For Debbie Jeffers, who has undergone back surgery, that the Lord would grant her full recovery and healing


For all school teachers as we make the run up to the season of Christmas, that they might deal with impatient children and adults with Christ-like patience


For Erin McGuire, who will undergo heart surgery tomorrow, that the holy angels would attend her and that she be brought through and strengthened in her body

Art: LEONARDO da Vinci Annunciation 1472-75

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