Grace Notes 2025-06-18
Why do so many hate Christ and the believers connected with His Name? The twentieth century saw more Christians put to death on account of their faith than were martyred in the prior nineteen centuries. Christians are far and away the most persecuted religious group in the world. It is not even close.
Our Lord Jesus sure stirred up a hornet’s nest during the two or three years of His public ministry some twenty centuries ago. People were either drawn to Him with intense devotion, or they were repulsed by Him and saw Him as a threat. There did not seem to be much neutral ground. You either hated Him or loved Him.
Arguably, Jessus lived a decent life. There is no hint of His having abused, taken advantage of others, lied, cheated, stolen or caused any physical harm to others. He taught the greatest two commandments had to do with love, first to love God with your whole being, and then to love your neighbor as yourself. He even taught the turning of the cheek to one who strikes you, to love your enemies, and to pray for those who persecute you. So why was there so much animosity directed toward Him?
It cannot be because He was merely a great teacher. There have been a number of highly regarded teachers who lived long lives and died in old age. Jesus was put to death when he was about thirty to thirty-three years old. The Roman Prefect, Pontius Pilate, recognized that Jesus did not represent a credible threat as a military insurrectionist. So again, why the vehemence?
I think it had to do with who He is, and who we are. If He in fact is God in the flesh and we are the sinners the Word of God says we are, then sinners resent and balk at the rightful Lord of their lives. We want to play God instead. But He is our merciful Lord and Savior who offers salvation for repentant sinners.
Since You Asked
What is the meaning of the “KYRIE” (kir-E-A)?
KYRIE is a Latin term which is in turn is a transliteration of a Greek word meaning “Lord.” In the Latin Mass the term KYRIE was combined with the term ELESION meaning “have mercy.” In addition, the Mass included a three-fold response: KYRIE ELEISON, CHRISTE ELEISON, KYRIE ELEISON, which translated is “Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy.” In our Lutheran Worship Service we utilize a prayer from the Latin Mass known as a Peace Litany. A Litany is a responsive prayer. This Litany is usually led by our Assisting Minister, and the congregation response is the KYRIE ELEISON. And so the Assisting Minister begins, “In peace let us pray to the Lord,” and the congregation responds to this and each succeeding petition with, “Lord, have mercy.” (with help from the Manual on the Liturgy a companion to the Lutheran Book of Worship, publ. by Augsburg).