Do you remember the Magnificat—Mary’s song at the start of Luke’s Gospel? We heard it all the way back on the fourth Sunday of Advent, when we sang several versions of it, including Canticle of the Turning. On that day, we talked about how important this piece of poetry is.
- It’s built with voices of several women who came long before Mary (and may have even originally been Elizabeth’s song!)
- This is a rare lengthy Gospel passage entirely owned by a woman.
- Jesus repeats all the ideas in the Magnificat in his ministry, and is especially clear about them in his sermon on the plain (what a good Mama’s boy, huh?)
On that Sunday, I suggested that the Magnificat is a non-violent cry for change. A song that acknowledges just how tough things actually are and still cries out with strength for what should be—for the world as it is to transform and embrace justice, equity, and love. That’s why we sang Canticle of the Turning that day—and why its refrain has shown up in sermons and in song throughout this year:
My heart shall sing of the day you bring,
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,
And the world is about to turn.
As Christians following in the way of Jesus, this is what we have signed up for. To see equity, justice, peace for all of God’s creation. To not turn our faces away from the difficulties, but to still keep our hearts open and ready for the next transformation. God is always in our midst, and we are always on the verge of something new. Our task is to remain in discernment, join hands with God, so that we might avoid stagnation and faithfully do our part one step at a time.
This has been the inspiration behind so much of my time here at Faith this year, and it is the reason and inspiration behind the paraments I leave with you as I have come to the end of my time here with you as your Intern Pastor. I’ve titled the design “The World is About to Turn.”
- The parament on the ambo/lectern has a set of words on the side visible to the reader: “my heart will sing of the day you bring.” Good singing is said to be speaking on tones, and likewise, good reading is the brilliant tonality of God’s day, brought to speaking.
- At the altar, you can see the cosmic tumult breaking through from underneath green and lovely ordinariness. Here is a table, a place where all inequities are leveled, where all are simply and effectively joined together image of God and living body of Christ. We are asked to stretch ourselves wide to welcome and recognize all for meal and community, for love and care at this table. This table is also the very place where we crack open the ordinary and the extraordinary breaks through—one of many places where we are reminded that the transformation of the world, it’s inevitable turn, is very near and we are participants in the action.
I hope that as time goes on, you’ll see these and remember that even the ordinary is extraordinary. I hope that each time you come to Year C and hear Luke’s words, you’ll remember this refrain and sing it, if not aloud then at least somewhere in your heart. God is always at work, always in the midst, and always, always—the world is about to turn.
My heart shall sing of the day you bring, Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near, And the world is about to turn.
PS: I am praying for all of you, Faith Lutheran, as you continue following through with the strategic plan. I also am beyond filled with gratitude for the support, love, care, we’ve shared this year. Your kindness is breathtaking. I am where I am today, and who I am today, because of you and what we’ve done together. Finally, I am excited to finally be able to say that I have been asked to be Pastor at Stanford University Lutheran in Palo Alto! Details on ordination and the like won’t shake out for a little while yet, but praise God! These good things also do not happen without the support and love of all of you— so yet again, thank you thank you, and thank you, Faith Lutheran! See you on Sept 14 for Songs with Stohlmann!
