All Saints
Preaching
Hear My Voice
Preaching The Lectionary Psalms for Cycles A, B, C
Object:
(See Proper 18/Pentecost 16/Ordinary Time 23, Cycle A, for an alternative approach.)
In the first verse of this psalm, the writer calls on his audience to praise the Lord and to sing a new song to the Lord "in the assembly of the faithful." In the closing verse, the writer returns to this theme as he writes, "This is glory for all his faithful ones." It is this image of the faithful assembly, gathered for praise and then being glorified for their praise, that draws this psalm into service for All Saints.
Liturgical churches are wise to keep this day and observe its meaning with as much enthusiasm as this psalm suggests -- not just as a memorial to those who have gone before, though that is certainly fitting. The idea of All Saints needs to be retained as a reminder of the calling of the faith community here and now. We are part of an unbroken succession of believers whose singular, unifying characteristic is our praise and adoration of God. It is the one thing that links all believers together, past and present.
That linkage is more important now than it ever has been. The immediacy of the electronic age has given us more information than we can possibly assimilate -- but at the same time, made it more difficult for us to maintain traditions and pass along a heritage.
This is particularly true in regard to worship. The present flux in worship styles has created a highly fluid situation. For many people, there is only the present moment of worship, only the now. The idea that they are somehow connected to a history of worship and service, that there have been and are others with whom we share a legacy, is not often voiced.
This does not mean we live in the past or get stuck in another worship moment fifty or one hundred years ago. However, there is a certain advantage to understanding that what we do in church has a history. There is also an advantage in remembering that there have been others who have been this way before us.
So, let us sing our praises in the presence of God, and remember the faithful who have sung and are singing with us throughout the ages. Let us celebrate the part we play in the great chorus of witnesses who seek to live out a certain truth, and experience God in our songs. This is not only our privilege, but it is also our glory -- to praise God with God's people forever.
-- J. E.
In the first verse of this psalm, the writer calls on his audience to praise the Lord and to sing a new song to the Lord "in the assembly of the faithful." In the closing verse, the writer returns to this theme as he writes, "This is glory for all his faithful ones." It is this image of the faithful assembly, gathered for praise and then being glorified for their praise, that draws this psalm into service for All Saints.
Liturgical churches are wise to keep this day and observe its meaning with as much enthusiasm as this psalm suggests -- not just as a memorial to those who have gone before, though that is certainly fitting. The idea of All Saints needs to be retained as a reminder of the calling of the faith community here and now. We are part of an unbroken succession of believers whose singular, unifying characteristic is our praise and adoration of God. It is the one thing that links all believers together, past and present.
That linkage is more important now than it ever has been. The immediacy of the electronic age has given us more information than we can possibly assimilate -- but at the same time, made it more difficult for us to maintain traditions and pass along a heritage.
This is particularly true in regard to worship. The present flux in worship styles has created a highly fluid situation. For many people, there is only the present moment of worship, only the now. The idea that they are somehow connected to a history of worship and service, that there have been and are others with whom we share a legacy, is not often voiced.
This does not mean we live in the past or get stuck in another worship moment fifty or one hundred years ago. However, there is a certain advantage to understanding that what we do in church has a history. There is also an advantage in remembering that there have been others who have been this way before us.
So, let us sing our praises in the presence of God, and remember the faithful who have sung and are singing with us throughout the ages. Let us celebrate the part we play in the great chorus of witnesses who seek to live out a certain truth, and experience God in our songs. This is not only our privilege, but it is also our glory -- to praise God with God's people forever.
-- J. E.
