The Rev. Paul J Cain
Luke 2:22-40
Nunc Dimittis
Wednesday of Lent 5, 13 April 2011
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, WY
Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. [Amen.]
Psalm 96:1-2 ESV.
Psalm 96:1-2 ESV.
C O Lord, now let Your servant
Depart in heav'nly peace,
For I have seen the glory
Of Your redeeming grace:
A light to lead the Gentiles
Unto Your holy hill,
The glory of Your people,
Your chosen Israel.
All glory to the Father,
All glory to the Son,
All glory to the Spirit,
Forever Three in One;
For as in the beginning,
Is now, shall ever be,
God's triune name resounding
Through all eternity.
Nunc Dimittis means “Now dismiss.” The Lord had promised Simeon that he would not die until he had seen the Christ with his own eyes. The confidence of Job shines through in Luke, chapter 2. Simeon is now prepared to depart in peace.
Many Christians are surprised to see a Post-Communion Canticle at the Lutheran Divine Service. The Roman rite doesn’t have one. Nor does the Church of England and the church bodies that emerged from her. The Nunc Dimittis is unique in this use, sung after having received salvation, life, and forgiveness in the Sacrament of the Altar. But the Nunc Dimittis is well-known to Christendom at this time of day.
Luther knew this canticle as the lullaby of the Church from a service called Compline, which is also in Lutheran Service Book. The Nunc Dimittis is sung at the end with this meaningful antiphon: “Guide us waking, O Lord, and guard us sleeping that awake we may watch with Christ and asleep we may rest in peace.”
“Rest in peace” reminds us of the peace that only God can give, a peace the world cannot understand. Imagine singing this canticle to prepare for a night’s sleep as if one were preparing for the death bed. Then, consider singing along with Simeon to prepare for death as if one were merely going to sleep and then waking up in your own room in the heavenly mansions.
Worship is heaven on earth. The Lord has gathered you to Himself as His people. We join the unending hymn of angels, archangels, and all the company of heaven, especially including Christian saints who entered heavenly rest before us. They sing “Holy, holy, holy” to God the Trinity. What a privilege to sing their ancient and eternal songs of praise.
Even in this valley of the shadow, heaven and heaven’s peace dwell with us. And we need it. Consider the other words Simeon blessed Mary with: “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts form many hearts may be revealed.”
Jesus will be rejected, be pierced, and die. And Mary will watch with a mother’s own agony. Jesus cries out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” His agony and abandonment brings you comfort and peace.
The Lord has fulfilled his ancient promises in Christ. He will continue to fulfill His promises to you in this life as well as Life Everlasting. Salvation has been won in Christ Jesus. It is delivered in Holy Baptism, the Holy Gospel, Holy Absolution, and in Holy Communion by the Office of the Holy Ministry. The ancient Church extolled the Lord’s gifts as “Holy things for the holy ones.”
Christ, the true Holy One is the glory of Israel, the Light of the world, a Light no darkness can overcome.
O Lord, now let Your servant
Depart in heav'nly peace…
Amen.
Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The Lord has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. [Amen.]
Psalm 98:1-2 ESV
Nunc Dimittis, LSB 211
C O Lord, now let Your servant
Depart in heav'nly peace,
For I have seen the glory
Of Your redeeming grace:
A light to lead the Gentiles
Unto Your holy hill,
The glory of Your people,
Your chosen Israel.
All glory to the Father,
All glory to the Son,
All glory to the Spirit,
Forever Three in One;
For as in the beginning,
Is now, shall ever be,
God's triune name resounding
Through all eternity.
Acknowledgments
Morning Prayer from Lutheran Service Book
Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2006 Concordia Publishing House.
