Grace Notes 2021-10-13
Upon the recommendation of the Senior of the Society of the Holy Trinity I have taken up the spiritual classic, “The Imitation of Christ”, by Thomas a Kempis. This fifteenth century work has been for the last five hundred years the most widely read book of Christian devotion in the world. And although not a thick volume, it begs to be read devotionally, a chapter a day.
The Imitation is subdivided into four lesser books, each comprised of many chapters: twenty five in the first book, twelve in the second, fifty-nine in the third, and finally eighteen in the fourth book. The chapters can be read in a matter of minutes, but they contain contemplation for the rest of the day. I plan to take the better part of four months to read a chapter a day.
There can be a mistaken notion as Lutherans that the attempt to imitate Christ smacks of works righteousness, that is, too much concentration on our efforts. And of course there is always the danger that we might start to rely on our own efforts instead of trusting and relying in what Christ alone was able to accomplish on our behalf! But that being said, when Christ bids a man to come and follow him, he means what he says!
When Jesus says he is the way, the truth, and the life (Jn 14:6), he certainly means coming to him is the way to the heavenly Father. It is also clear that in being drawn to him we are also drawn into a new manner of life, one in which he himself leads us.
Of course we need to be discriminating. You may remember the bracelets with WWJD engraved on them. The letters stood for “What Would Jesus Do?” That notion took a lot of criticism, some of which I think was too extreme. Yes, there are some things only Jesus does! He alone is the Savior. And yet, he also exemplifies how we are to live! (cf Jn 13:15; 1 Pe 2:21) He has, in fact, left us an example!
Since You Asked…
Why is incense used in some churches?
The use of incense is not unique to Christianity or Judaism and is used in many of the world’s religions to enhance special times and places by sight and smell. In Christian worship incense is effectively used at the beginning of the Service of the Word and in preparing for receiving Holy Communion. The burning of incense is associated with the prayers of worship rising before God (cf. Psa 141:2; Rev 8:4). Good worship should engage all the human senses. In this connection it should be pointed out that the olfactory sense is perhaps the most sensitive of the five senses; it continues to function even during sleep. (Indebted to Aidan Kavanah in his “Elements of Rite”.)