Either/Or or BOTH?

Pentecost 19, October 23, 2011

Deuteronomy 34:1-12

Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17 from BCP

1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

Matthew 22:34-46



Watch the priest or read the liturgy? Watch the choir director or the music? Diet or exercise? Love or discipline? Obviously, the answer in each of these questions is “both.” That quick response would likely be followed by a longer explanation to point out that the two parts of each question are not options or in competition with each other but different aspects of the same truth. Simplistic and legalistic minds always want one correct answer. But simple answers have one thing in common—they are usually incomplete.

So it is in Sunday’s gospel when the Pharisees ask, “Which commandment of the law is the greatest?” Jesus answers, “You shall love he Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” But He cannot let it drop there; He needs to tell them the rest of the story, adding, “And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus refuses to separate these two pillars of the faith. Neither is quite right without the other, He wants them to know.

Some think there is no way to do both, so they will choose to do ONE and try to do it really well. We need not look far to see those who try to ignore the distractions of the world so they can concentrate on being holy, or those who are so busy doing for others that they forget the source and sustainer of life. Or parents who discipline without love or love without discipline. What about Christians who are undernourished from refusing the promised means of grace? Such people are all around us, and they are often in us.

Is it, then, simply a matter of valuing both sides of the issue and trying to balance them? Still not quite right. Jesus tells us that upon these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. This is one ultimate commandment with two, interdependent sides. Love of God results in love of neighbor; we can love our neighbor only because God loves us. Such a balanced faith frees us from attempting the balancing act, frees us from keeping track of points, frees us from ourselves, and frees us for service.

How can such a faith be ours? It is given as a gift from the one who proclaimed and lived a life of integrated love and service.

Our Deuteronomy text shows Moses devotion to God and Israel. Moses, at age 81 was ready for retirement when he persuaded Pharroh to let God’s people go. He further had such deep faith in God and God’s chosen people that he chose to lead them for another 40 years to the promised land even though he was not allowed to go with them. The people he led unselfishly, reached their goal. Moses, even in his headstrong ways, was allowed by God to reach the heavenly goal. What an example! O God, Our Help In Ages Past will be our processional hymn. The text by Isaac Watts is probably not only his best-known work, but one of his finest. A masterful paraphrase of Ps. 90:1-5, it can be found in practically every English-language hymnal around the world. John Wesley, who altered the opening from “Our God our help” to “O God, our help” printed the original 9 verses in his Collection of Psalms and Hymns (London, 1738). The Hymnal 1982 presents us with 6 verses. Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17 will be sung by the choir in Anglican Chant.

Link to Westminster Cathedral, complete with Boys Choir, singing this hymn:

http://youtu.be/asrwlIxLeko





God of Mercy God of Grace, our 2 verse sequence hymn, was written by Henry Francis Lyte, born in Ednam Scotland in 1793 and died in Nice, France in 1847. Deserting an early intention to pursue a medical career, Lyte took holy orders in 1815 and served several curacies before being appointed perpetual curate at the fishing village of Lower Brixham, Devon, in 1823.

Ubi Caritas by James Biery, will be our Eucharist anthem. Biery (born 1956) is an American organist who is Minister of Music at Grosse Pointe Memorial Church in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan. He was Director of Music at the Cathedral of St. Paul in St. Paul, Minnesota from 1996-2010. Biery was featured regularly as a performer on the Cathedral's monthly concerts. He and his wife, Marilyn, shared the organ and conducting duties at the Cathedral. Before moving to Minnesota, James Biery was Director of Music at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford, Connecticut, where he performed often on the 140 rank Austin organ.

                                                                  Figure 1 James Biery



This is a setting of the complete traditional Maundy Thursday Latin text possibly written by Paulinus of Aquileia to support his address at the Synod of Forum Julii in 796 or 797. Using sumptuous harmonies, Biery’s musical setting of Ubi Caritas features a recurring statement of the text, “Where true love and charity are found, God is there.” The chant-like verses inspires us to set aside petty quarrels and to experience, as one family, God’s limitless and pure joy. Ubi Caritas can be used throughout the year. We have often done the beautiful Durufle version at Grace Anglican Church in Boise.



The Love of Christ has gathered us into one

Where true love and charity are found, God is there.

The love of Christ has gathered us into one.

Let us rejoice and be glad in Christ.

Let us fear and love the living God

And care for one another with sincere hearts.



So when we gather as one,

We must take care not to be divided in mind.

Let petty quarrels end, let bickering cease,

And let Christ our God be in our midst.



So, too, in the company of the saints, let us see

Your face in glory, Christ our God –

Joy that is limitless and pure

Through endless ages. Amen.

-translation by Maryann Corbett





Here is a link to this beautiful anthem:

James Biery - Ubi Caritas - YouTube





Our recessional hymn, When in our Music God is Glorified was written by Fred Pratt Green in 1972 after a request for new words for Stanford’s festive tune ENGELBERG. That tune had been written in 1904 for use with the words “For All the Saints,” but it was eclipsed almost immediately by Vaughan Williams’s SINE NOMINE, the tune to which we sing that marvelous hymn. The hymn is loosely based on Psalm 150, Mark 14:26 and Matthew 26:30.

History suggests that it is very difficult to write a real hymn on the subject of congregational music-making. Usually there is insufficient weight and development to support the effusiveness that this theme seems to generate. Here, however, we have an honest hymn of substance and scope that is never self-congratulatory or platitudinous and is always grateful and worthy.

This Sunday, we will have guest singers in the Lofty Pews who have all been brought together by love of beautiful music. Some of us are members of Grace Anglican, some regular attenders and some members of other churches or denominations or perhaps not members of any church. However, the opportunity to sing such a lovely piece of music with each other has inspired us to spend time together in a retreat in Oregon recently and then here in Boise, over dinner and then practice around the piano, and again Sunday morning to polish it all up in the Lofty Pews. Join us in the Fireside Room after the service to meet these singing friends.

Our desire is to give praise to the Lord of Life, honor those musical messengers of past days, bear witness to the creative Spirit who ever inspires new creativity and declares to the world the power, grace and peace of God. We add our voices to the song that began at creation and will continue into eternity. A hymn by Wayne Wold:

1. God is praised in music ancient; liturgies and chants and hymns

show a God beyond our culture, greater than our passing whims.

2. God is praised in music modern; new, creative textures, sounds

show a God beyond our limits, broader than our human bounds.

3. God is praised in music humble;’ simple, honest melodies

show a God who dwells among us, sharing joys and miseries.

4. God is praised in music mighty; organs, choirs, and instruments

show a God beyond our knowing, larger than our measurements.

Refrain Let us then make music boldly, as an offering true and strong.

God is praised, proclaimed, and honored as we join the eternal song.





Sources:

Hymnal ’82 Companion

Companion to the SDA Hymnal

Deacon Ron Jutzy

Tune My Heart to Sing

YouTube.com

Morningstar Publishing