It isn’t difficult to identify with the exasperation expressed in the opening readings for today. It may be more difficult to happily sign on to the way of life that is encouraged for those who follow Christ.

Both the psalmist and the prophet present the image of a God losing his patience with recalcitrant favored children. God rescued them from slavery, and repeatedly fed them with the finest wheat and filled them with good things, even though they stubbornly clung to their own selfish ways. (Psalm 81:1, 10-16) But eventually God is appalled that the favored people could abandon God’s ways with such ease, and in such a wholesale manner. God’s people forsook God’s abundance, and took off in ways that gained them nothing. (Jeremiah 2:4-13)

Set alongside these readings are a parable of Jesus and a teaching about Christian love. The familiar parable is that of the wedding feast, where the host may rearrange the seating arrangements at his own whim, and wherein Jesus again presents his upside-down views of justice and mission. Two teachings emerge: First, choose for yourself a place of humility. Second, real generosity is that which is shown to those who have no possibility of repaying you. (Luke 14:1, 7-14) The reading from Hebrews amplifies this, exhorting acts of hospitality, generosity, and love. This we can do without fear, because, echoing the words of the prophet and psalmist, God is our helper, the one who rescues us and will not leave us alone. (Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16)

I recently was in on a conversation where friends were being open and honest about how difficult it is to live up to these ideals, these commands, these ways of God. But we still agreed that it is better to strive for them and fall short, than to abandon them and fall to one’s own vices and devices. In our acts of humble obedience, we may receive the gift of discovering in a most genuine way, that being loving, generous, just, and hospitable is its own reward. That may be when we discover what it is to be Christ-like.

Choral Music:

We are grateful to Alisha for leading our singing this morning.

• Solo: “As We Gather At Your Table” – Carl Daw, Jr. — The words of Daw’s hymn have been set to several tunes and several settings. This morning’s setting is to the familiar tune Beach Spring. It summons us to invite others to the banquet where we are fed and nourished with heavenly things, and to offer ourselves in service and generosity to those in need.
  
• Solo, with refrain: “A Place at the Table” – Shirley Murray/Lori True — Using the imagery of the banquet again, this contemporary song challenges us to think more like Christ in setting a place for everyone at the table. As a song of inclusion, it invites us to reshape ideas of fairness and justice in the light of Christ’s teaching.

Organ Music

We’re pleased this morning to have Amanda and her friend Chrissy playing their flutes, and to have Matthew playing his saxophone.

• Prelude: “You Are My All in All” – Dennis Jernigan, arr. Lloyd Larson — This song of praise will please God, who looks for us to acknowledge God’s goodness and salvation. The arrangement is for two flutes and piano. (To this is added a simple arrangement of the hymn, “Let All Things Now Living.”)
• Offertory: “Praise to the Lord” – Charles Callahan — This arrangement of the familiar hymn is for saxophone and organ (but played today on piano). Its harmonies and expression lend the piece a meditative air.
  
• Postlude: “Allegro” – Leon Boellmann — This spritely movement from Boellmann’s suite provides a suitable end-frame to today’s service.

August 28th, 2010 Subscribe to the RSS feed!