My wife (Jane) is a musician and a singer. She often says there are those who play music and sing and those who play music and sing! What she means by that is that people can technically master a musical instrument and only play the notes as written. They don’t ‘feel’ the music. My ear isn’t as attuned as hers to music, but I understand what she is saying.
I am sure we have been transported
to ‘another realm’ when listening to someone play or someone sing who has a
natural talent and they take things to another level.
It is as if the music is
emanating from them, they are so deeply entwined with each other. At such times
I often find myself moved to tears. I may not fully understand all that’s going
on, all the notes and positioning. But I don’t necessarily need to, because
when music is played from the soul, then soul speaks to soul through the medium
of the music.
On Thursday I was once again
at St Andrew for what is known as ‘The Big Table Gospel Group.’ (This started basically when some people met
around a big table in the church café to discuss the forthcoming Gospel for the
next Sunday. It has developed a tad since then and every other week we also
discuss a raft of issues and people, or read a book, particular during Lent and
Advent. We never know how many people are
going to turn up or who might turn up and join us.) On Thursday we were four and
exploring the Gospel set for today, Sunday 5th July. Matthew
11:16-19 – 25-30.
Taken on its own it is an
odd passage but if read with the surrounding material and background it does
begin to make more sense. (The broader context is the death of John the Baptist
and Jesus’ response.)
The final verses in the
passage are quite well known, about taking Jesus’ yoke and learning from him,
because his way is light and his yoke is easy.
But isn’t this the same
Jesus who also said he was going to bring a sword, that our enemies would even
be amongst our own families, and that we had to take up our cross daily and follow
him? This was at a time and in a place where they would knew only too well just
what that meant.
What is going on here?
Occasionaly Eugine Peterson’s
‘The Message’ version helps to bring illumination.
28-30 “Are
you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and
you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me
and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I
won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll
learn to live freely and lightly.”
Couple this with what
at first sight appears an obscure verse, 12, “From the days of John the
Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent
take it by force.”
Jesus has just berated the
crowd and talked about how John came as an ascetic, not eating and drinking,
and he, Jesus, came in celebration and is called a drunkard and a glutton for
meeting with all the wrong kind of people.
However, says Jesus, ‘wisdom
is vindicated by her deeds.’ Or leaning again into ‘The Message,’ “Opinion
polls don’t count for much, do they? The proof of the pudding is in the
eating.”
What we don’t see of the
singer or musicians who seem to live, breathe and play with ease is the hours
spent in practise, honing their craft and marrying it up with their own natural
talent.
Do you want to walk through
this world at ease with yourself and with God? Do you have a passion to live
and be part of God’s Kingdom, working for the Kingdom, earnestly seeking for the
Kingdom to be manifest on earth as it is in heaven.
Well Jesus seems to be
saying. Do not follow the way of the Pharisees, don’t become enslaved by ritual
and rules for their own sake. The notes on a musical score isn’t the music that
we hear.
‘Learn the unforced rhythm
of grace.’
Do not try by force to enter
God’s Kingdom by your own skill, wisdom, knowledge or wealth.
Matthew 11:25 “At
that time Jesus said in reply, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven
and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the
learned you have revealed them to the childlike.”
We need to learn to lean
into Jesus’ wisdom with the ease with which he was able to play to the music of
heaven and sing it out as a Gospel troubadour.
And as we learn to lean more
into Jesus so we will learn what instruments we are best suited for and which
song we are called to sing.
Today I went along to help at ‘Revive Rugby Church in the Park.’ Since the 20th June there have been a raft of events and activities in Rugby and the surrounding area. Yesterday in Caldicott Park there was a whole array of music and craft activities. This afternoon many Churches gathered, helped by the nice sunshine. There was music aplenty, not all to my taste, but lively and entertaining. The whole place was a buzz with many families, making crafts, being prayed for, circus skills, and a whole range of other activities. I got into conversation with a young Muslim man from Pakistan. He was amazed that there was so much fun, laughter and peace and that nobody asked for any money. From the crafts to the music and the conversations, everything was gifted.
We agreed that this is how
we should live. This is a true sign of
God’s Kingdom come upon earth. The Gospel message being sung out in word and
deed. No bombs, guns, knives, harsh words, violence. No one trying to hustle or
hassle you.
I don’t know where or what
song I will be invited to sing in the week ahead. But I do want to be as
prepared as I can be, not to simply sing in a technically rehearsed way, but in
way that brings soul and life into play.
What song might God be
asking you to sing out this week as one of God’s troubadours?
https://youtu.be/yufrI0MZQ8Y?si=-eTrhI6bP9cr0aNZ
