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Saints of the Passion Devotions for Lent 2021 Saints of the Passion prepared by students of Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Wayne, Indiana Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! The Augsburg Confession says, “the memory of saints may be set before us, that we may follow their faith and good works” (AC XXI). This devotion is organized by the CTSFW students to do exactly that by following two saints each week through these next 40 days of Lent. Each week will surround two saints of the passion—those who, in some way, participated in the passion of our Lord. The schedule will proceed as follows. The devotions for the week of Ash Wednesday will be the propers from Ash Wednesday. Then each Sunday will reflect on the Collect (Sunday’s prayer) for the week as well as the two saints and each week will focus on a new set of saints through the Old Testament and the New testament. Saint Clement once said “Follow the saints, because those who follow them will become saints.” Therefore, throughout these 40 days, let us follow the saints who lead us to the cross. Many thanks to all of the CTSFW students who contributed devotions to this effort. Special thanks should also be given to Kim Hosier and Rev. Dr. Paul Grime for their aid in completing this devotion. Therefore, through this devotional, as we surround ourselves with so great a cloud of witnesses and saints of our Lord’s passion, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Heb. 12:1–2). Ian Kinney Martyrdom of Saint Valentine, 2021 February 17, 2021 Matthew Carlson (Sem I) Devotion When I was a child, one of the hobbies I had was making model cars from kits. There was nothing better than getting one of those cars done and making it exactly as I wanted it. I would take pride in the cars that I made. Eventually, something terrible would happen to the cars, either falling off the shelf, becoming faded, or even being shown off and dropped. When that happened, no matter what I did, the car would never be the same again. When God created man, He made us exactly how He wanted—in His image—and called us good. But just like the cars, something happened to damage us, and that is sin. Unlike my model cars, God can make us perfect again, which He does through Jesus’ death on the cross. Whoever repents and believes is made righteous in His sight. Prayer (Collect for Ash Wednesday) Almighty and everlasting God, You despise nothing You have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent. Create in us new and contrite hearts that lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness we may receive from You full pardon and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Hymn From depths of woe I cry to Thee, In trial and tribulation; Bend down Thy gracious ear to me, Lord, hear my supplication. If Thou rememb’rest ev’ry sin, Who then could heaven ever win Or stand before Thy presence? From Depths of Woe (LSB 607:1) February 18, 2021 Patrick Cox (Sem I) Reading Joel 2:12–19 Devotion The land of Judea was suffering from a severe locust infestation. Their land was so overrun that the people could not even gather the supplies needed for offerings to God. The prophet Joel brought news to the people: their situation was about to get worse. The Day of the Lord was coming with darkness and destruction. “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your garments” (v. 12–13a). God calls His people to repent—to truly repent from the heart. In his call to repentance, God tells His people to come together into a solemn assembly and pray for mercy. Then God will have pity on His people, provide a savior, and rescue them from judgment. This Lenten season, let us all come together, repenting of our sins, and praying to God for mercy from our very hearts. Prayer Grant to us, O Almighty God, that by the annual exercise of Lenten observances we may advance in knowledge of the mystery of Christ, and follow His mind by conduct worthy of our calling; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord. Hymn Thy love and grace alone avail To blot out my transgression; The best and holiest deeds must fail To break sin’s dread oppression. Before Thee none can boasting stand, But all must fear Thy strict demand And live alone by mercy. From Depths of Woe (LSB 607:2) February 19, 2021 Silas Hasselbrook (Vicar) Reading 2 Corinthians 5:20b—6:10 Devotion Originally, the imposition of ashes was a Medieval practice in which repentant persons who had been subject to church discipline were marked upon their forehead to demonstrate their desire for reconciliation to the Church. Currently, we receive the sign of ashes as a reminder of our mortality, which is the wages of sin, and as an expression of penitence as we enter the penitential season of Lent on Ash Wednesday. Perhaps we would do well to remember that the ashen cross is also an expression of our reconciliation to God. It was, after all, in the mortality, in the dust, of the incarnate God that you were reconciled to God. It was because of Christ, who was made sin and who was lifted up on the cross, that Paul bases his appeal for you to be reconciled to God. And Christ Himself continues to make His appeal to you through those He calls to the Holy Ministry. Today’s text is about the reconciliation that called ministers of Christ zealously bring to the world on Christ’s behalf. Listen to these faithful men, announcing to you that you are living in the day of salvation. Listen to these men who are but dust and are treated so for bringing the message of reconciliation. As the dust is fleeting, so are the hardships of this life. But what you are to become, the righteousness of God, is everlasting. In Christ, this is how you are: right with God. Reconciled. Prayer O God, if You should determine to render to us what we deserve, we must sooner perish than endure our deserved punishment. Mercifully forgive our wanderings, and that we may be able to be converted to Your commandments, we pray that You would go before us with abundant mercy; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Hymn Therefore my hope is in the Lord And not in mine own merit; It rests upon His faithful Word To them of contrite spirit That He is merciful and just; This is my comfort and my trust. His help I wait with patience. From Depths of Woe (LSB 607:3) February 20, 2021 Gabriel Aiello (Sem I) Reading Matthew 6:1–6, 16–21 Devotion “What are you giving up for Lent?” We often hear this question as our forty days of preparation begin. Some of us are starting a traditional fast with reduced meals, no meats, and no treats. Others are giving up worldly entertainments, including television, games, or social media. These habits can be beneficial to turn our attention away from earthly delights and back towards Christ. However, before we boast of our pious deeds, we should consider Christ’s warnings in Matthew 6. If we brag, then our works do not benefit us, since boasting turns our attention towards ourselves instead of Christ. Instead, we should let our fasting remind us of God’s free gifts, especially forgiveness of sins, Holy Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. Prayer We beseech You, O Lord, in Your forgiving love, turn away what we deserve for our sins, nor let our offences prevail before You, but let Your mercy always rise up to overcome them; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Hymn And though it tarry through the night And till the morning waken, My heart shall never doubt His might Nor count itself forsaken. O Israel, trust in God your Lord. Born of the Spirit and the Word, Now wait for His appearing. From Depths of Woe (LSB 607:4) First Week of Lent Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus February 21, 2021 Jonathan Anderson (Sem I) Devotion God gives provision where and when it is needed. The people of Israel needed clothes and shoes while in the wilderness forty years. God pro- vided ones that miraculously did not wear out. Jesus needed a tomb and burial preparations after dying for us on the cross. God provided through Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. So also, God provides all things necessary for us: clothing of righteousness in Baptism, forgiveness in His Supper, daily bread, and shoes of readiness given by the gospel of peace. Just as God led the people of Israel through the wilderness and to a land flowing with milk and honey, so He will lead us to heaven where the river of the water of life flows from the throne of God and of the Lamb.
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