Friday, April 20, 2012

Why do we kneel?

There were a few folks who were not so sure about the decision to include kneelers in our new church (well, 11 years old and counting).  Some did not know Lutherans knelt (ever a surprise to find out how catholic Lutherans are).  Some knew about kneeling and did not like it (not a surprise to find out some Lutherans are suspicious of things they might deem a little too catholic).  Some did not want anyone to kneel if they did not (or could not due to inability) -- thinking that the different postures would divide the church (surprising since we have always had folks who did not kneel though the majority do kneel for Holy Communion).

Anyway, I did find a section on the Pope's homily for Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday) where he directed us to the postures of prayer in Scripture.  It was nice and short but very well written.  So I pass it on to you here:


Before reflecting on the content of Jesus’ petition, we must still consider what the evangelists tell us about Jesus’ posture during his prayer. Matthew and Mark tell us that he “threw himself on the ground” (Mt 26:39; cf. Mk 14:35), thus assuming a posture of complete submission, as is preserved in the Roman liturgy of Good Friday. Luke, on the other hand, tells us that Jesus prayed on his knees. In the Acts of the Apostles, he speaks of the saints praying on their knees: Stephen during his stoning, Peter at the raising of someone who had died, Paul on his way to martyrdom. In this way Luke has sketched a brief history of prayer on one’s knees in the early Church. Christians, in kneeling, enter into Jesus’ prayer on the Mount of Olives.   When menaced by the power of evil, as they kneel, they are upright before the world, while as sons and daughters, they kneel before the Father. Before God’s glory we Christians kneel and acknowledge his divinity; by that posture we also express our confidence that he will prevail.  

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Every LCMS parish I grew up in had kneelers. When we came across one that didn't, I always remember my dad's perturbed remark, "Where are the kneelers? That's not right!" Right on, dad! Still, Pastor, if you want to encourage other Lutherans regarding the churchly practice of kneeling, perhaps quoting a source OTHER than the Pope would be more advantageous! :)

Anonymous said...

Kneelers are great for the under
60 yr old crowd. Today, we have more
members who are over 65 yrs old with
artificial knees, arthritic knees,
etc. So the pastor always announces
"Kneel as you are able."

Anonymous said...

Who really cares what the Pope or Bishop this or that says?

Anonymous said...

Father Peters (not Protestant Pastor
Peters) is a closet Roman Catholic.
He believes Lutherans will one day
return to Rome.

Fallhiker said...

amazing those who disagree usually are anonymous. I always take a knee being an elder in the rear of the church where there isn't a kneeler amazing if you look at football players who pray and take a knee.... and for those anti-catholics out there keep in mind Luther's original intention wasn't to break away but, bring the church back into line with scriptures

Janis Williams said...

Anonymus #4, how do you know what Fr. Peters is or is not? Are you a member of his church? If you are, you should know better. If you are not, I am, and I know better.

I hope you don't handle Holy Scripture in this way.

Janis Williams said...

P.S. Thanks, fallhiker for reminding us of Luther's position on the catholicity of the Church.

Anonymous said...

I recall a time when working with the Catechumenate, one of the candidates had to kneel for a long time during one of the rites. He had bad knees. Commenting afterward he told us he just kept his eyes on the cross and thought:"If the Savior could hang on the cross I could spend a few minutes on my knees." Thank you Pastor Peters for all of your writings.

Elsa Quanbeck

Pastor Peters said...

Quote: Father Peters (not Protestant Pastor
Peters) is a closet Roman Catholic.
He believes Lutherans will one day
return to Rome.

Response: But of course not. I believe that the Pope (or one of them at least) will come to Wittenberg and Rome will become Lutheran.

I think you know me not... nor much about Lutheranism as it is confessed in the Confessions.