Here’s something special about church: where else do you get to hear good, live music for free? And participate in it if you want to? Seriously. As an aside, I say “free” because we obviously don’t charge admission at the door—even though your freewill offerings make it possible. We are blessed here at St. Matthew’s with very good non-organ based “church music.” I like how we have tried to think outside the box when it comes to music. There are the oldie-but-goodies and the contemporary sacred-secular songs, and a lot in-between—“treasures new and old” that we bring out (Matthew 13:52) when it comes to worship. I like to think of good music as a “treasure hidden in a field” or a “pearl of great price” that you’ll spend precious resources to have (Matt. 13:44-46).
This Sunday, in the Gospel reading (Matt 13:44-53) Jesus tells parables using those images for the kingdom of heaven. You discover something! and then will give your life to attain it and keep it, or hold on to it... What exactly is that “treasure,” that “pearl”?? He uses them as metaphors for the kingdom of heaven. But what exactly does THAT look like? I think it’s different for everyone.
This Sunday Daniel Bower and his bluegrass band will share some of that treasure with us as the message. I imagine musicians finding that “something” and then having to share it. Music that shares the Gospel is like that, and in this case they’ll be sharing the Gospel bluegrass style. To me, that’s where I see the Holy Spirit at work through all kinds of artists. We use words like “inspiration,” and the word “spirit” is in the middle of it. The Holy Spirit moves us in many different ways, and when it comes to music, moves us in many different styles. Let us thank our musicians for how they share that with us as their act of worship, and let us share with each other the “treasures” and “pearls” God has led us to discover.
Peace,
Pr. Christian