Sixth Sunday in Lent Devotion

The ‘Te Deum’ Overture                                     Sixth Sunday in Lent - March 28, 2021

‘Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the LORD has comforted his people; he has redeemed Jerusalem. The LORD has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.’ (Isaiah 52:9-10)

LSB 454 – Sing, My Tongue, the Glorious Battle

(Verse 1 of this week’s hymn served as inspiration for today’s devotion.)

From Rossini’s William Tell Overture to Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture, some of the most profound legends of battle and bravery have had incredible overtures written to introduce their heroic and celebrated victories. Looking back at history, there have been many battles fought and some of them lasted for years. For example, the ‘Battles of the Reconquista’ saw Christians and Muslims at war for over 770 years, while single engagements such as the ‘Battle of Hürtgen Forest’ saw Nazi’s and U.S. soldiers in sustained combat for nearly three months.

There is one battle however, that beats all of them; which is still on-going. This battle is being fought on many fronts and the stakes couldn’t be higher. It is the battle between good and evil. It is the evil one waging war against God and all humanity where we are called to stand firm against the spiritual forces of evil by taking up the whole armor of God. In this battle, the Standard-Bearer goes before us with the blood of the Lamb upon the Crest of His Banner and calls for the sound of trumpets to fill the heavens and the earth to rouse all creation to break forth and sing the great TE DEUM Overture!

Every day in this fallen world the forces of evil work to drown out this song of victory in an attempt to demoralize those who are fighting the good fight of faith and weaken their resolve to persevere. Thanks be to God Who has equipped us for the long-haul and sustains us through the means of His amazing grace in Word and Sacrament. Throughout this Lenten Season, the bells of our churches and chapels will peal calling us to join our hearts and voices in praising God for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and reminding us that although the battle continues, the strife is over - the battle done, because from the cross Jesus declares “it is finished,” the day is won!

Prayer

Heavenly Father, every day You continue to sustain us for the battles we face with Your full armor. The battlefields which the enemy chooses to engage us are throughout our nation, among our communities, and within our own homes. Lord, without Your aid and comfort, we would despair and fall helplessly into the hands of the enemy. Lift and sustain us, guard and guide us, dear Father. Help us to cling to Your Word as we bear our cross until that day when we find rest in Your everlasting arms and all creation will break forth in singing ‘TE DEUM LAUDAMUS’ (O God, We Praise You) for the glorious battle won for us all in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Rev. Robert Briggs – Lutheran Senior Services – Chaplain, Affordable Housing