From this morning’s post by “Brothers of John the Steadfast,” a Lutheran liturgical organization; I found it interesting, given the thread here:
“The history of ritual is largely a history of what humans do. But Luther insisted that in liturgy God does something. The Christian mass, he insisted, bucking a long history, activates God’s testament, his last will. … Martin Luther’s authority was Hebrews 9.17, ‘For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive.’
“Who has ever heard that he who receives an inheritance has done a good work? He simply takes to himself a benefit. Likewise in the mass we give nothing to Christ, but only receive from him; unless they are willing to call this a good work, that a person sits still and permits himself to be benefited, given food and drink, clothed and healed, helped and redeemed. [Luther’s Works, vol. 35, p. 93]
“Oliver K. Olson, Reclaiming the Lutheran Liturgical Heritage, p. 13 (Minneapolis: ReClaim Resources 2007).”
Very interesting quotes from Luther. Thanks so much for giving me something to think about.