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Thursday, September 9, 2010

Understanding the Liturgical Worship Service: Service of the Sacrament Part II

Sanctus (Holy)
Explanation: Like the Gloria in excelsis, the Sanctus is the song the angels sang, but this time in the presence of their exalted Lord and in the vision of Isaiah the prophet. Why is this important? We sinful, deathly, and very earthly beings are eating and drinking the flesh and blood of a sinless, once dead but now living, and very earthly-yet-heavenly Being; that is to say, at the Lord's Supper heaven and earth meet. We are about to experience our Lord Christ: a foretaste, a preview of the feast to come. And so we sing the song we'll sing when we meet Him then.
'Hosanna' means 'save us now,' although it is a word of praise, since we have the Hope and assurance that indeed our Messiah has saved us by His death and resurrection, and He heals us with His true body and blood.
Sacramental: We sing back what has already been told to us in Scripture.
Scripture: Isaiah 6:3
Alternative: Revelation Song (this could also incorporate the Agnus Dei); please don't sing Hosanna, since it really doesn't deal with our text, nor is it 100% theologically sound.
Hymns: LSB 960-961; There also have been a number of attempts to turn Holy, Holy, Holy (LSB 507) into the Sanctus, including by Jaroslav Vajda.

Benedictus
Explanation: The Benedictus (Blessed) is taken from Psalm 118 and said by the crowds when Jesus bodily entered Jerusalem, just like our risen and uplifted Lord is about to bodily enter us. Hosanna means "Lord, save us," and was used for the entrance of the King, akin to "God save the King." Jesus, our heavenly King, makes His entrance.
Sacramental: We sing back what has already been told to us in Scripture.
Scripture: Psalm 118:25-26, Matthew 21:9
Alternative: I'm not aware of any.
Hymns: All Glory, Laud, and Honor (LSB 442)

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