Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. (Psalm 100:4)
On Christmas Eve, I settled into a seat at the rear of the church to enjoy the pre-service special music at the 10:30 PM service. As I listened intently to the various musicians and singers, I was inspired to lift my eyes to the ceiling. On a beam high above the alter in the uppermost section of the sanctuary, I noticed a moth with wings splayed out against the structure. It was motionless. In a brief cyclone of brain activity, I pondered that God creates all creatures and questioned how the moth got in here to begin with and what is going through its infinitesimal brain as it looks down upon this congregation and absorbs the lighting and the vibrations of the sounds.
As the service began and progressed, I took my customary perch in the choir section at the front of the church. From this vantage point, I can see virtually the entire congregation and its relative activity. And I noticed that some visitors, and members, did not follow the liturgy at all or sing a note of the popular Christmas hymns we had scheduled for that evening. Some chewed gum with vacant stares and some grasped the rail of the pew in front of them to hold themselves up. In my infinitesimal brain, I started making judgments about who was hung-over and who was bored beyond all reclamation and who was making appearances only for Grandma. Why did they come if they have no intention of interacting with praise and thanksgiving? Do they think that the two sacraments, the hearing of the Word and the receiving of the Holy Communion, are enough for them this night?
And then I remembered the words of Jesus:
“You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.’” Matthew 15:7
I believe “sanctimonious” is the word that applies here! I thought to myself, “Wasn’t it you who only several weeks ago were teaching the Eighth Commandment to the confirmands: You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor, of which the interpretive extension in the small catechism is that Instead we are to come to their defense, speak well of them, and interpret everything they do in the best possible light”
Maybe these people are extremely tired after a long trip. Maybe these people are distracted by a personal problem. Maybe these people are suffering from a medical ailment. I don’t know so I should rally to their defense and speak well of them . . . or shut up. On one of the most reverent nights of the church year, I must be thinking of all my Christian brothers and sisters in the best possible light, not the opposite. The teachings of Jesus and of God are difficult because our sinful natures, even on Christmas Eve, drive us away from them. Incredible! But what is even more incredible is that our God fully realizes our ridiculous weaknesses and reconciles us with Him by providing the ultimate intermediary. So let’s not be quick to judge but instead enter his gates with fervent thanksgiving and his courts with inspired praise.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I realize that the difference in influence between a moth on a wall and a human that has heard your Word but does not put the Word into practice is very small indeed. Help me to be the man you desire me to be. You gave us the greatest gift in the world so I ask this request in His name, the name of Jesus. Amen.
Contributed by Donald
Monday December 29, 2014
Liturgical Year B: Week 5
Liturgical Color: White
Sunday Gospel reading: Christmas 2
First Sunday after Christmas