The habitation of the Lord's house

 

On January 9, 2022, we celebrated the fifth anniversary of the consecration of our “templo”, or temple, which is the Spanish word often used for the actual sanctuary where Christian worship takes place, with the distribution of foodstuffs from our monthly offering. And there was cake.

While the Romance languages use variations of “ecclesia” (the Greek word, “ekklesia” imported into Latin) for both the people and the place (in Spanish, it’s “iglesia”), “church” came into the Germanic languages from the Greek “kyriakon doma” (the Lord’s house). It is most likely that the pre-Christian Germanic tribes learned to identify Christian places of worship with this term, which dates back to the fourth century AD when there were public houses of worship to be identified. We say the “visible” church is wherever the Word of God is preached in its purity and the sacraments administered according to Christ’s command, but what outsiders often see first is the bricks and mortar, or whatever local construction materials are used.

Ekklesia is the word translated as “church” throughout the New Testament in English versions of the Bible. It may be translated as “assembly”, which may mean the local congregation, but also the whole body of Christ, the gathering of all Christians who have ever lived and will live on this earth before Christ’s throne in glory. But its original meaning was more precisely people called out from their homes to gather in a public place, for example, a town hall meeting. Christians are called out from their homes to hear the Word publicly proclaimed and receive the sacraments, and as a royal priesthood, to offer their praise, petitions and sacrifices of thanksgiving to God. Thus, the author of Hebrews, while speaking of a “tabernacle not made with hands” (9:11), also warns believers against “forsaking the assembling of ourselves together” (10:25).

For King David, it was the Tabernacle, the mobile tent of meeting where the people of Israel had worshipped since Mount Sinai. “O Lord, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells” (Psalm 26:8). David may have written this psalm when he was fleeing from his rebellious son, Absalom. At any rate, he is far from the place of public worship; his love is to be there united with the people of God in solemn service.

King Solomon, David’s son, built the first Temple of Jerusalem around 586 BC, and its consecration was the topic of our Old Testament lesson, 1 Kings 8:6-13. As the Ark of the Covenant is installed there, the God blesses the place with a visible manifestation of His glory in the form of a cloud. Solomon’s Temple was destroyed by the Babylonians and a new Temple built after the end of Jewish exile. Herod the Great began an ambitious project of renovating and expanding the Temple 20 years before Jesus was born, so by the time that Jesus was 12 years old, the Temple of Jerusalem was bigger and better than ever.

That was where Joseph and Mary found Him after searching Jerusalem for three days in our Gospel text for that day, Luke 2:41-52. Jesus asks them, “Why were you looking for me?” The Greek text that follows reads literally like this: "Didn't you know that I need to be in that of my Father?" The King James Version translates this verse as “Didn't you know that I need to be about my Father's business?” But the context indicates that the verse is better understood as" Didn't you know that I would be in my Father's house? "

Jesus spoke of the Temple as his Father's house many years later when he twice drove out the money changers and merchants. He did it the first time early in his public ministry. In John 2:16, he told them, "Take this away from here, and do not make my Father's house a marketplace."

But these practices did not stop and during Holy Week, the last week of his life, Jesus again drove the merchants out of the temple. According to Mark 11:15, he said to them, "Is it not written: My house will be called a house of prayer by all nations? But you have made it a den of thieves." There are two Old Testament quotes here: Isaiah 56: 7 and Jeremiah 7:11. Look at the verse from Isaiah, "My house will be called a house of prayer for all peoples." The plan of salvation was not just for the Jews, but for all nations.

But the Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD. Where is the Father’s house now? It is where Jesus is, when two or three are gathered in His name (Matthew 18:20), and where the Father is worshipped in Spirit and in truth (John 4:23).

Leaving the Lord’s house with His blessing

The theme of universal salvation is also evident in the text for the second day of February, 40 days after Christmas. Lucas 2:22-32 is the account of the first visit of Jesus to the Temple 40 days after His birth, when Joseph and Mary offered on his behalf the sacrifices required by Old Testament law. This passage also includes the blessing of Jesus by Simeon, which has become a hymn of the church since the earliest times.

“Lord, now let your servant depart in peace, according to your word: For mine eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all people; A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”

This is the Nunc Dimittis (Latin for “now let depart”) which, according to Lutheran custom, we sing after the Eucharist. It is a most appropriate moment, for, having received the body and blood of our Lord, we leave His presence and go out into the world to reflect the light of His salvation in a dark world. It is more than a Lutheran peculiarity. The earliest occurrence of the Nunc Dimittis in a eucharistic context appears in the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom (circa 347-407 AD). Historically, the Nunc Dimittis also has been used as a hymn of closing at vespers and compline (evening and late-night) prayer services and at funerals.

For this holy house

For years, our mission’s place of worship was a simple, covered patio. The current two-story structure with its belltower can be seen from a great distance, and has greatly enhanced our presence in the community (Google Maps says our mission has received 382 views so far this month). It was built with money raised by our friends and supporters in North America.

Continued support is needed for maintenance of the building and possible future expansion. We just had the pump for our well cleaned and repaired for the first time since the public water system went down nearly five years ago. During that period, it pumped water not only for our household needs and those of the preschool, but also provided water for our neighbors, too. The public water system has been restored partially, but still is not a totally reliable source. However, our preschool was ready and waiting for students to return, now that in-person classes are again permitted. Luz Maria has begun anew her afterschool tutoring and is mentoring Venezuelan deaconess students online through a program sponsored by Concordia El Reformador Seminary in the Dominican Republic.

Also, with the spiraling cost and limited availability of public transportation, our mission-mobile has proved critical to keeping it all going. The car is a 2014 VW Crossfit Parati, so it is very reliable, but does need regular maintenance.

We thank the Lord for these blessings and opportunities to serve Him, and also all of you whose financial contributions made the construction possible.

So let us pray this portion of a prayer attributed to St. John Chrysostom, a fourth-century bishop and preacher, and which has been incorporated into English hymnals, such as the Lutheran Service Book, and “Cantad al Señor” the Spanish worship supplement that we use here, as a version of the Kyrie:

In peace let us pray to the Lord; Lord, have mercy.

For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord; Lord, have mercy.

For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all let us pray to the Lord; Lord, have mercy.

For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord; Lord, have mercy.

Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord. Amen.