Behold the Lamb of God...

Jesus, the Lamb of God, marks the final destination of all gilt trips -- those we impose on ourselves, and those imposed by others.

You have been freed. Live into your freedom.

Fr Gustavo

Epiphany Letter

January 15, 2014.

 

Let us make a joyful noise unto the Lord!

   One of the most remarkable institutions created in the last fifteen years or so is The West-Eastern Divan Orchestra (www.west-eastern-divan.org), based in Seville, Spain, which intentionally includes young musicians from several Middle Eastern nations and Israel. The Orchestra was founded in 1999 by the Argentine-Israeli Pianist and Conductor Daniel Barenboim, and the late Palestinian-American academic Edward Said.

   According to Maestro Barenboim, the Divan Orchestra “was conceived as a project against ignorance. A project against the fact that it is absolutely essential for people to get to know the other, to understand what the other thinks and feels, without necessarily agreeing with it. I'm … trying to … create a platform where the two sides can disagree, and not resort to knives."[1] In an interview with Fred Child, in his NPR’s program Performance Today, Maestro Barenboim further stressed that “The project is about music. To play music, the musicians have to listen to each other.” And they listen to each other because each and every musician has embraced a common goal – to play the best music possible… regardless!

   Listening is the key to playing music and to the understanding of our fellow human beings, and it is what enables people to hear God’s voice. It is a voice that at times can be unsettling but always it is loving expression of God’s best intentions for us. And whenever we close ourselves to God’s voice, we can’t tune our life to God’s score for our lives; and whatever we do, deprived of love, is just harsh-sounding din. What is more agreeable unto God’s eyes, a joyful and, perhaps, untidy noise or a perfectly orthodox and gold-clad – but clanging – cymbal?

   On Sundays, when we carry the Gospel book in procession we do it to highlight that the Gospels are our sacred score, the Word of the Lord, the music of the Spirit. Therefore, trusting in God’s grace and in the Spirit power, we should make every effort to play our part, making “A joyful noise unto the Lord” (Psalm 100:1), not only with our voices, but with our lives.

   I understand that some of you may be still grieving about Fr James’ resignation. And I can say that no one is or was happy about his determination, including Fr James. But it was his own personal determination. And we must continue praying for ourselves and for Fr James, for healing and reconciliation.

   Our Church is not a Divan-like orchestra. But we are a divine-inspired orchestra (Thank you, Barb!) Yes! We are a Church called to worship God in Christ. As members of the Holy Body to which we belong, we must listen to each other, and we all need to play the melody that the Holy Spirit is inspiring us to sing for the praises of Christ. We have been adopted into the family of God and inserted into the Body of Christ at great price. Then, it is our duty to “make every effort to guard the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3).

   To all those who for one reason or other have left St Paul’s in the recent weeks or months, I would like you ask you to return. As a member of the Body of Christ, no one can say “I have no need of you”. There cannot be differences that cannot be reconciled through the Cross of Christ. Yes, there may be disagreements or difference of opinions. But to make “a joyful noise unto the Lord” we need all voices. Including yours. So, please, come back! And if you are on the sidelines, waiting to see “what happens”, I would also ask you to pick up the ministry – “your instrument” – that the Spirit has gifted on you, and use it to be best of your abilities. We need you too.

   If Israelis, Palestinians, Iranians, Egyptians, and Spaniards are willing to listen to each other, and to play to their best for the sake of music, shouldn’t we be willing to love each other, listen to each other, and serve one another for Christ’s sake?

   Let us work together to please our dearest Lord. But also, let us work together so “the hope of Christ” may shine again here at the Crossroads and beyond!

Fr Gustavo

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[1] Ed Vulliamy (13 July 2008). "Bridging the gap, part two". The Guardian. Retrieved 2008-11-01. – Quoted in Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West-Eastern_Divan_Orchestra. Retrieved 2014-01-15.