Encore Post: In the course of the Liturgy of the Divine Service, we now fix our eyes upon the Altar, where Christ comes to us in His Body and Blood to feed us, forgiving our sins, and strengthening our faith. We are entering into the “Service of the Sacrament.” But before the meal we prepare ourselves further by hearing the words of both the Preface and Proper Preface.
The Preface is one of the oldest pieces of the entire Liturgy. According to my reading in preparation for writing this post, it seems plausible that the Preface could have been a part of the liturgy when the Apostle John was still alive (90 AD).
The words of the Preface are pretty simple. The celebrant (the pastor who is overseeing the Sacrament of the Altar), begins by saying the phrase: “The Lord be with you,” which happens to an echo from the Service of the Word when the pastor speaks or chants the Collect of the Day. The congregation then responds, “And with thy spirit.” Typically, the pastor has opened his hands toward the people in speaking this salutation and then he “receives” this blessing from the people as well.
We then hear the words, “Lift up your hearts.” The congregation: “We lift them to the Lord.” These words are interesting because of their origin. While it sounds great, it can be misunderstood. I remember from my seminary days, Dr. Masaki talking about these very words because of their “implied Calvinism.” In the Service of the Sacrament it is not really us who go up to heaven, but in actuality, it is Christ who comes down to us. And wherever Christ is, that is where Heaven is. So Heaven is on Earth in the Divine Service, and specifically in the Service of the Sacrament.
The beginning phrase and the ending of of the Proper Preface remains the same each and every time. It’s what is sandwiched in between that changes and contains the hard hitting theology. For instance listen to the preface of Good Friday, Easter Vigil, Easter Day, Pentecost, etc. You will see the themes of the day beautifully illustrated for us. Listen to these, ask your pastor for a copy of them to meditate upon for a devotion. In the Service, it leads us to the singing of the Sanctus in which we announce the “Coming of the Lord” for us to save us now in the giving of his body and blood.
Rev. Jacob Hercamp
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church
La Grange, MO
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