Exodus 12:29-42: "29 And it came to pass at midnight that the LORD struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of livestock. 30 So Pharaoh rose in the night, he, all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not one dead. 31 Then he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, 'Rise, go out from among my people, both you and the children of Israel. And go, serve the LORD as you have said. 32 Also take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and be gone; and bless me also.' 33 And the Egyptians urged the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste. For they said, 'We shall all be dead.' 34 So the people took their dough before it was leavened, having their kneading bowls bound up in their clothes on their shoulders. 35 Now the children of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, and they had asked from the Egyptians articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing. 36 And the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they granted them what they requested. Thus they plundered the Egyptians. 37 Then the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides children. 38 A mixed multitude went up with them also, and flocks and herds--a great deal of livestock. 39 And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they had brought out of Egypt; for it was not leavened, because they were driven out of Egypt and could not wait, nor had they prepared provisions for themselves. 40 Now the sojourn of the children of Israel who lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years. 41 And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years--on that very same day--it came to pass that all the armies of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt. 42 It is a night of solemn observance to the LORD for bringing them out of the land of Egypt. This is that night of the LORD, a solemn observance for all the children of Israel throughout their generations."
The Israelites after 430 years of being in Egypt, finally start their journey back to their own land; The land of Canaan. This sojourn in Egypt was exactly 430 years, to the very day, we are told. The night of this Exodus from the sojourning in Egypt was to be held as a solemn observance to the Lord. It was kept as a vigil.
Today, when we speak about a solemn observance, we are referring to a specific way of celebration. For example a solemn Mass is a Divine Service that is sung in its entirety. This includes the readings, the creed, everything. The only exceptions being the sermon and the General Prayer, which are never sung. This solemnity may even be accompanied by the use of processionals, and the use of incense. All these solemnities are meant to increase the importance of the Service. So that everyone who participates in the celebration, may know that what is celebrated is important. Most of these solemnities center around the life and work of our Lord Jesus Christ.
These solemnities often spill over into the prayer offices of the specific day, so that at Matins and Vespers, the entire office is sung, and again, there are special activities that are done on these days. These days typically for the New Testament Church, are the Sundays and Feast days.
In the Lutheran Church the days marked as days of special solemnity include first and foremost what are called the High Feast days. These are four in number: Christmas, Easter, Whitsunday (Pentecost), and Trinity. These High Feast days are celebrated for a whole eight days, so each of these High Feasts contain what is called an octave, that is, that the feast day is re-celebrated throughout eight days, and on the eighth day the feast is commemorated. This simply means that the Collect for this day is prayed in all services up to and including the services on the eighth day. The octaves also carry the same festive atmosphere as the Feast day themselves.
The octaves for these High Feast days are: The Circumcision of our Lord, Quasitmodo geniti, Trinity Sunday, and The First Sunday after Trinity (this is why this Sunday has white paraments instead of green), respectively. The only other day in the Church year that has an octave (besides the anniversary of the dedication of the Church which is a specific day of solemnity in a particular parish) is Epiphany. This is due to the fact that Epiphany was the original celebration of Christmas, that is, the incarnation. It's octave is the Baptism of the Lord on Jan. 13.
These High Feasts are technically the only days that should be called "Feast Days," for all the other celebrations in the Church Year, are technically called "Festivals." There are both Greater festivals and lessor festivals. These Greater, or Major festivals in the Lutheran Church are: The Sundays in Advent, The Circumcision, The Epiphany, Septuagesima, Sexagesima, Quinquagesima, Ash Wednesday, the Sundays in Lent, the Days of Holy Week, Easter Monday, Easter Tuesday, the Sundays after Easter, The Ascension, the Sunday after Ascension, Whit-Monday, Whit-Tuesday, the Sunday after Trinity, Reformation Day, All Saints' Day, The Dedication or Anniversary of a Parish, The Feast of Title.
The lessor, or minor festivals include all Apostles, Evangelists, and Martyrs Days, The Presentation, the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, The Annunciation, The Transfiguration, St. Michael and all Angels Day, Thanksgiving, a Harvest festival, a Mission festival, and a Day of Humiliation and Prayer. These days may be marked by special solemnity, but the Greater festivals are always marked by special solemnity.
You will notice that certain Greater Festivals are within penitential times of the Church Year, the solemnity of these days is marked by the penitential character, and are celebrated with this in mind. This includes the exclusion of the Gloria in Excelsis, or the absence of the Alleluias, (like we are currently observing) or it may include cross and images of our Lord being covered by violet monks cloth, or the tryptychs being closed, or the absense of flowers, or the use of the organ only being used to support the choir and congregation.
And so, we can see what it means to observe a solemn occasion in the Church. The event of the Exodus was also observed in this fashion by the people of God. It was done this way, not simply because it was an important day to remember, like one remembers Independence Day, or Memorial Day, it was celebrated with solemnity because on that day, the Lord God showed His salvation for His people. For the New Testament Church, our days of solemnity are all about the life and work of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is His life and work which we celebrate, which we remember. For one cannot have salvation, if one does not know our Lord Jesus. And one cannot know our Lord Jesus, unless we are told about Him. And so, throughout the year we hear over and over again, what our Lord Jesus did for us, and continues to do for; In His birth, and ministry, and death and resurrection. We also get to hear of the wonderful faith and life of those who preached and proclaimed our Lord Jesus, and of His Blessed Virgin Mother, who bore Him for us. Therefore, as we hear over and over again the life story of our Lord Jesus, throughout our lives, we come to know Him, and trust in Him and love Him, so that we learn to hope in His promises.
This is no different for the Israelites. For as they yearly, and weekly, remembered the Pascha, they were always reminded of our Lord God's deliverance from slavery and oppression. May the Lord God, ever keep us in the one true faith by keeping our ears attuned to hearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who delivered us from the slavery and oppression of sin by His death.
God be with you!
Deacon Dulas
Today, when we speak about a solemn observance, we are referring to a specific way of celebration. For example a solemn Mass is a Divine Service that is sung in its entirety. This includes the readings, the creed, everything. The only exceptions being the sermon and the General Prayer, which are never sung. This solemnity may even be accompanied by the use of processionals, and the use of incense. All these solemnities are meant to increase the importance of the Service. So that everyone who participates in the celebration, may know that what is celebrated is important. Most of these solemnities center around the life and work of our Lord Jesus Christ.
These solemnities often spill over into the prayer offices of the specific day, so that at Matins and Vespers, the entire office is sung, and again, there are special activities that are done on these days. These days typically for the New Testament Church, are the Sundays and Feast days.
In the Lutheran Church the days marked as days of special solemnity include first and foremost what are called the High Feast days. These are four in number: Christmas, Easter, Whitsunday (Pentecost), and Trinity. These High Feast days are celebrated for a whole eight days, so each of these High Feasts contain what is called an octave, that is, that the feast day is re-celebrated throughout eight days, and on the eighth day the feast is commemorated. This simply means that the Collect for this day is prayed in all services up to and including the services on the eighth day. The octaves also carry the same festive atmosphere as the Feast day themselves.
The octaves for these High Feast days are: The Circumcision of our Lord, Quasitmodo geniti, Trinity Sunday, and The First Sunday after Trinity (this is why this Sunday has white paraments instead of green), respectively. The only other day in the Church year that has an octave (besides the anniversary of the dedication of the Church which is a specific day of solemnity in a particular parish) is Epiphany. This is due to the fact that Epiphany was the original celebration of Christmas, that is, the incarnation. It's octave is the Baptism of the Lord on Jan. 13.
These High Feasts are technically the only days that should be called "Feast Days," for all the other celebrations in the Church Year, are technically called "Festivals." There are both Greater festivals and lessor festivals. These Greater, or Major festivals in the Lutheran Church are: The Sundays in Advent, The Circumcision, The Epiphany, Septuagesima, Sexagesima, Quinquagesima, Ash Wednesday, the Sundays in Lent, the Days of Holy Week, Easter Monday, Easter Tuesday, the Sundays after Easter, The Ascension, the Sunday after Ascension, Whit-Monday, Whit-Tuesday, the Sunday after Trinity, Reformation Day, All Saints' Day, The Dedication or Anniversary of a Parish, The Feast of Title.
The lessor, or minor festivals include all Apostles, Evangelists, and Martyrs Days, The Presentation, the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, The Annunciation, The Transfiguration, St. Michael and all Angels Day, Thanksgiving, a Harvest festival, a Mission festival, and a Day of Humiliation and Prayer. These days may be marked by special solemnity, but the Greater festivals are always marked by special solemnity.
You will notice that certain Greater Festivals are within penitential times of the Church Year, the solemnity of these days is marked by the penitential character, and are celebrated with this in mind. This includes the exclusion of the Gloria in Excelsis, or the absence of the Alleluias, (like we are currently observing) or it may include cross and images of our Lord being covered by violet monks cloth, or the tryptychs being closed, or the absense of flowers, or the use of the organ only being used to support the choir and congregation.
And so, we can see what it means to observe a solemn occasion in the Church. The event of the Exodus was also observed in this fashion by the people of God. It was done this way, not simply because it was an important day to remember, like one remembers Independence Day, or Memorial Day, it was celebrated with solemnity because on that day, the Lord God showed His salvation for His people. For the New Testament Church, our days of solemnity are all about the life and work of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is His life and work which we celebrate, which we remember. For one cannot have salvation, if one does not know our Lord Jesus. And one cannot know our Lord Jesus, unless we are told about Him. And so, throughout the year we hear over and over again, what our Lord Jesus did for us, and continues to do for; In His birth, and ministry, and death and resurrection. We also get to hear of the wonderful faith and life of those who preached and proclaimed our Lord Jesus, and of His Blessed Virgin Mother, who bore Him for us. Therefore, as we hear over and over again the life story of our Lord Jesus, throughout our lives, we come to know Him, and trust in Him and love Him, so that we learn to hope in His promises.
This is no different for the Israelites. For as they yearly, and weekly, remembered the Pascha, they were always reminded of our Lord God's deliverance from slavery and oppression. May the Lord God, ever keep us in the one true faith by keeping our ears attuned to hearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who delivered us from the slavery and oppression of sin by His death.
God be with you!
Deacon Dulas
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