Henri de Lubac, a Roman Catholic theologian, commenting on the changes in the liturgy that coincided with Vatican II, wrote, “In the present welcome efforts to bring about a celebration of the liturgy which is more ‘communal’ and more alive, nothing would be more regrettable than a preoccupation with the success achieved by some secular festivals by the combined resources of technical skill and the appeal to man at his lower level…. The ‘unanimous life of the Church’ is not a natural growth; it is lived through faith; our unity is the fruit of Calvary, and results from the Mass’s application to us of the merits of the Passion, with a view to our final redemption.”

While there is in North American Christendom a regrettable preoccupation with success achieved by technical skill and base emotional appeal, the Divine Liturgy still survives in the midst of the ruins. At his blog, Pastor Esget applauds the Lutheran Service Book (LSB) as a blessing to our church. As Jubilate Sunday approaches, I too rejoice that the LSB preserves the Divine Service for the sake of Christ’s people. What a privilege it is to receive Christ’s gifts as we join with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven! Who needs technical skill and emotional appeal when the Holy Spirit is at work through the means of grace to secure our final redemption in Christ? We retain the Mass for many reasons, one of which is to find comfort in the certainty that our growth in Christ is by the power of the Word. There is nothing natural or manipulative about it.