Blogging Toward Sunday, February 7
Transfiguration Sunday
Raising Hope: Raising and Praising!
Scripture -- Nehemiah 6:15-16, 8:1-6, 9-10 (NRSV)
So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem; for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.
All the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month. He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. The scribe Ezra stood on a wooden platform that had been made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."
What do you do when a project is completed? When a ship is built, there's a festive launch, with a bottle of fine champagne broken across the bow. When a challenging business goal has been achieved, the team responsible celebrates, hoping to receive a bonus. When a spacecraft touches down, especially if its cargo is human, congratulatory cheers are heard among even the most reserved scientists and technicians in "mission control." When a young person graduates from high school, parties and presents punctuate the event. When a mortgage is paid off, a ceremonial burning (or shredding) marks the celebration, and, in some churches, the tradition is to paint the door red to let the world know that this milestone has occurred. (Ready for a red door, trustees?)
When the people of Jerusalem completed the challenging task of rebuilding the wall of the city, under the God-inspired leadership of Nehemiah, their response was praise. Not praise of Nehemiah, or of the priestly Ezra, who led the liturgy. Not praise of their own workmanship or diligence. They praised God.
They celebrated together, worshiping and praising God in liturgy and prayer. Our modern concept of the word "liturgy" may not seem a likely way to celebrate anything. For some people of faith, the word liturgy suggests a repetitious, even robotic drone that deadens, rather than enlivens worship. Part of the "worship wars" of the last twenty-five years in the protestant church has focused on liturgy as the culprit of declining numbers of worshipers, especially in mainline denominations like ours.
One definition of the word "liturgy" is "the work of the people." It fits wonderfully well with the celebration in Jerusalem that day so long ago. Ezra and Nehemiah gathered the people at the work site and reminded them of how and why this trash-heap of rubble had turned into a vision of strength and security. The God whom they had neglected never neglected them. The God whom they had forgotten remembered them. The God they may have never known knew them better than they knew themselves.
So, Ezra reminded them of their heritage of faith: the Torah, the law of the Lord. God's gift to them, even greater than the gift of the Temple or the wall around the city. Scripture was read, and the people said, "AMEN! SO BE IT!" They celebrated by giving glory to God through their work, words, and worship.
This Sunday, February 7th, we will complete our series "Raising Hope" with "Raising and Praising" as we celebrate the gift that comes to us in God's word. Our work together in worship becomes our joyful gift to God, who takes joy in giving us strength to be the beloved community.
May God's joy by our strength! (Nehemiah 8:10)
LeeAnn
