From: "Todd A. Peperkorn (by way of Rev. Eric J. Stefanski, )" To: Subject: HP: Ascension Notes Date: Thursday, November 01, 2001 12:55 PM [From the "pen" of the Rev. David H. Petersen...] As Piepkorn explains in "The Conduct of the Service" the Celebrant "may bow from the waist at the words, 'And was Incarnate' and remain bowed through the words, 'Was crucified also for us'; he raises himself erect again before the words, 'under Pontius Pilate.' (The explanation given for this was that the soldiers of the Roman procurator knelt and bowed before Our Lord in mockery during His Passion.) In some parts of the Church of the Augsburg Confession the Celebrant placed the extremities of his fingers on either side of the Corporal and knelt on his right knee from words. 'And was Incarnate' through the words, 'and was made man.'" Available on-line at http://www.lexorandi.org/piepkorn.html Likewise we bow for the Name of the Holy Trinity, for this too is a Doctrine our minds cannot comprehend. But the greatest of all mysteries is the Incarnation. The reality of God becoming Man, flesh of our flesh, and that only to save us knocks the reverent to their knees in awe. Ascension is a feast of the Incarnation. It explores the great mystery that Man ascended to the right hand of the Father to rule there for eternity. For this Man born of woman is also true God, and now being exalted He always and fully uses His Divine rights and attributes as a Man. Thus He ascended into heaven, His proper place, now also our proper place and home. He broke not only the gates of Hell that kept us in, but He broke down the gates of heaven that kept us out. He has gone before us, paved the way, broken the trail. He is our Champion and our Captain. From His Father's side He sends the Spirit of Truth to lead us into the way of all Truth. From there He advocates for us, intercedes for us, and rules for us. And from there He comes to us. He whose body was nailed to the cross, ascended bodily into heaven, and comes to us bodily in the Sacrament of the Altar. Obviously this is beyond our intellectual abilities. And so we kneel in submission, in thanksgiving, and in praise at the glory that is His who is God and Man at the same time, and that for our eternal benefit. Impossible though it seems, rebel man has been redeemed and enjoys a higher place than his former dominion in the Garden. Humanity has been elevated. Jesus, Our Brother, one of us, rules on high. His Father, is Our Father and by Grace we are princes and princesses in the Kingdom. The Proper Preface draws attention to the mystery in this way " (He) was taken up into heaven that He might make us partakers of His Divine nature." Happy preaching. Petersen Rev. Todd A. Peperkorn, Pastor Messiah Lutheran Church 2026 22nd Ave. Kenosha, WI 53140 (262) 551-8182 Church (262) 551-9081 Parsonage ICQ: 41323985 TPeperkorn@worldnet.att.net http://www.yahoogroups.com/community/MessiahNews http://messiah-lcms.gatheringspot.com/ + Historic Preaching + The Historic Preaching list is devoted to preaching on the Propers of the Historic Lectionary as found in The Lutheran Hymnal (TLH) and Service Book and Hymnal (SBH). Subscribe? Send ANY message to: Unsubscribe? Send ANY message to: Respond? Click 'Reply' or write to For further information about this list, contact the list administrator at: Rev. Fr. Eric J. Stefanski or visit our website: + + + + + +