Luther on Lent

Nathan Mitchell points out in his essay in The Oxford History of Christian Worship that “just as Luther wanted to retain Lent, Palm Sunday, and Holy Week (though not their obligatory fasts and ceremonial ‘trickery’), so he wanted all liturgy to ‘center in the Word and Sacrament.’ The services of Lent and Holy Week permitted daily preaching on the gospel accounts of Christ’s cross and passion. And for Luther the ultimate gospel – the ‘summary of the gospel’ – is contained in the eucharistic consecration and communion, where believers take to themselves Christ’s undying word and promise.”