Holy Tuesday Matins

Antiphon:
P:  Christ became obedient to death, even death on a cross.
C:  O come, let us worship Him.  

Office Hymn:  LSB 864 "Shepherd of Tender Youth" (st. 3)

You are the great High Priest;

You have prepared the feast

     Of holy love;

And in our mortal pain

None calls on You in vain;

Our plea do not disdain;

     Help from above.

Old Testament Reading:  Lamentations 2:1-22

From The Lutheran Study Bible:  By the Lord's hand, Babylon has destroyed Jerusalem and razed its temple.  The consequences of sin have left people slaughtered and the remaining citizens exiled to Babylon.  God has turned His back on His people for turning their back on Him.  Their worship of false gods violated the covenant dating back to the exodus from Egypt.  Their sin has now born hideous fruit.  Despite the apostasy of God's people, He still loves them and will bring them back from their captivity to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple.  From these people, God shall raise up a Savior for all nations.  * Lord, teach us to heed Your warnings and repent when we stray, that we might receive Your precious forgiveness.  Amen.

New Testament Reading:  Hebrews 3:1-19

From The Lutheran Study Bible (vv. 1-6):  Though Moses was a faithful servant in God's household, Jesus is the faithful Son.  Since Jesus calls you to your heavenly home, you can be confident that you will share God's glory.  However, beware not to boast of your own faithfulness.  Only God is holy and righteous.  In Christ, you freely share in God's holiness.  He is calling you to glory.  * Lord Jesus, Son of the Father, fill me with Your Spirit of faithfulness.  Amen.

Responsory:
P:  We have an advocate with the Father; Jesus is the propitiation for our sins.
C:  He was delivered up to death; He was delivered for the sins of the people.
P:  Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven and whose sin is put away.
C:  He was delivered up to death; He was delivered for the sins of the people.
P:  We have an advocate with the Father; Jesus is the propitiation for our sins.
C:  He was delivered up to death; He was delivered for the sins of the people.

The Writing (in place of the homily) by Hugh of St. Victor (From Treasury of Daily Prayer):

There are certain rites or ceremonies in the Church and, although salvation does not depend on them principally, yet salvation is increased from them according as devotion is exercised.  Although these cannot be enumerated at present, nevertheless we should not omit certain ones as examples of all.  So of these rites or ceremonies, some consist of such things as the water of aspersion, the reception of ashes, the blessing of branches and of candles, and other such things.  Now others consist of deeds such as the sign of the cross, the blowing of exorcization, the spreading of the hands, the bending of the knees, and other acts of this kind.  Others consist of words, like the invocation of the Trinity and whatever else is done in this manner.  Now all these things are sanctified by the word of God, whether they are sanctified through the utterance of words by invoking divine power or receive the effect of sanctification through the same divine power by the exhibiting of faith alone.  For where there is true faith, the word of God cannot be lacking, since the word itself is conceived by faith and operates through faith . . .

Custom also has it that, on Palm Sunday . . . the branches of palms and the foliage of trees be blessed and distributed to the people, to carry as those did, who while singing and praising with branches of palms and flourishing foliage of trees met the Lord Jesus on the same days as He went to Jerusalem.  Thus not only is it proposed that this must be done by us corporeally as they did it corporeally, but rather this is signified, that either in that or in this corporeal deed there must be spiritual imitation.  For the palm is the sign of victory but the flourishing branches signify good works.  So then we meet Christ in an act of praise with branches of palms and foliage, when we praise Him with good works and with action worthy of graces as the triumpher over death.

Collect of the Day:
Almighty and everlasting God, grant us by Your grace so to pass through this holy time of our Lord's passion that we may obtain the forgiveness of our sins; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.