Martin Luther (1483-1546), a former Augustinian monk, was the tinder that ignited the Reformation in the 16^th century, splitting the 1,000-year-old church into two – what later became known as Protestant and Catholic.  However, he was not the first reformer – there were others who preceded him, such as Arnold of Brescia, Jan Hus, John Wycliffe and Peter Waldo.  Luther’s ideas also benefited from a brand-new invention, called the Gutenberg press, which allowed the dissemination of Luther’s ideas across Germany, and further across Europe.  Many other reformers joined the “reformation revolution”, such as Ulrich Zwingli (1484–1531), Hugh Latimer (1487–1555), Martin Bucer (1491–1551), William Tyndale (ca. 1494–1536), Philip Melanchthon (1497–1560), John Rogers (1500–1555), Heinrich Bullinger (1504–1575), and John Calvin (1509–1564). 

However, Luther did not alter the style of Catholic worship to any large degree – he believed that whatever elements of worship that had been introduced by the church over the centuries could be kept as long as they did not directly violate Scriptural commands. Calvin, on the other hand, believed that human traditions needed to be stripped away and worship needed to be re-formed according to Scripture. Thus, worship should only include that which Scripture commands or sets as an example.  Other reformers had other, sometimes much more radical ideas, about how worship should be conducted. 

All of this preamble is to say that we still retain the five main mass parts of the old church – Kyrie, Gloria, Credo (Creed), Sanctus and Agnus Dei–in our modern Holy Communion service.  I’ve written about the first four in previous blogs.  We no longer chant or sing the Creed, but the other mass parts are still sung in a wide variety of settings.  And today, I want to talk about the Agnus Dei, which is translated as “Lamb of God.”

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; grant us peace.

While the congregation files up to receive Holy Communion, the congregation and choir sing the “Lamb of God”, as well as other hymns that have a communion theme, until all the members of the congregation have received the elements. 

The phrase “Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world” comes from John the Baptist in the Gospel of John (John 1:29).  By identifying Christ as the Lamb of God, John declared him to be the fulfillment of the Old Testament sacrifices as the all-sufficient offering for our sin.  Our sins are forgiven due to the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross on our behalf.  The congregation sings this song and remembers Christ’s redemptive work while we take communion.  The Lamb of God ends with a petition for mercy and peace.  This three-fold petition reminds me of Luther’s reported last words – “We are beggars.  This is true.”  According to Joshua Janke, http://www.risensaviorlutheran.org/sermon-blog/2021/10/24/mark-1046-52-we-are-all-beggars-october-24-2021:

“’We are all beggars.’ Beggars who can do nothing but cry for mercy; who must do nothing but receive what he wants to give; and beggars who joyfully want to follow Jesus to eternal life. Thank God that Jesus has time and mercy in abundance for beggars like us. Amen.”

I love that despite our lowliness, there is joy in our redemption, and we can depend on the love and steadfastness of our Lord.

Back to the pragmatics of Holy Communion, one of the reasons the Agnus Dei occurs at this point in the service, is that it allows the pastor to receive Holy Communion before distributing the elements to the congregation.  In our church, our pastor prefers to commune the congregation first, and then receive their elements at the end.  Everybody, even the pastor, receives Holy Communion from outside of the person receiving it. 

After communion, the leftover elements are gathered up and placed back on the altar, covered with the chalice cloth, and our communion part of the service ends with a prayer. 

May grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love.  Amen.