Preaching from Connie Roybal
2016 Associate Commitment Ceremony
A mother took her boy to a concert by the great pianist, Jan Paderwerski, hoping to encourage her sons progress on the piano. Once seated, the mother spotted an old friend and walked down the aisle to greet her.
Seizing the opportunity to explore the wonders of the concert hall, the little boy left his seat and eventually explored his way through a door marked “NO ADMITTANCE”.
When the house lights dimmed, the mother returned to her seat and discovered that her child was missing. In a panic, she looked around the concert hall and as the curtains rose on the impressive Steinway on stage, she was horrified to see that there, at the piano, sat her little boy innocently picking out “Twinkle, twinkle Little Star”.
At the same moment the renowned piano master took the stage. Without hesitation, he moved to the piano and whispered to the child, “Don’t quit. Keep playing.” Then leaning over, Paderwerski reached down with his left hand and began filling in the bass part. Soon his right arm reached around the child to other side, and he added a running obligato.
Together, the old master and the young novice created a wonderfully delightful experience. Mesmerized, the audience couldn’t remember what else the great master played…only the classic “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”.
George K. Knight, in his commentary on Isaiah 49, says this about the passage: “What Deutero –Isaiah is explaining from this‘Word’ of God is that, while God is light indeed, his light cannot be reflected unless it strikes a polished surface. Israelhas been created by God to be that surface, for to be it is to be the Servant. A mirror is nothing in itself. It can reflect light only when there is light to fall upon it.”
It is true that, while this reading is one of the “servant” readings from Second Isaiah, still it says a great deal about how our God looks upon each of us, and about how each of us should look upon our God.
Called from our mother’s womb, and given a name, our own name, we, each of us, is precious in God’s eyes, and our purpose is to show God’s glory. But, indeed, God does intend more, much more, for each of us. “I will make you a light to the nations,” God says, “that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” What we must keep in mind is that ‘the call’ comes to all of us, and to each of us. Alone, we do toil in vain. Together, we can become that mirror that reflects God’s glory.
“All” means “all”. Looking at each one’s accomplishments through human eyes, some might seem to be picking out a simple tune on the piano of life, but notice the master playing the bass and adding the obligato, and be amazed at the loveliness and the classical beauty of the ‘whole’ as played by those who seek only to be a mirror of the glory of God. Notice how each adds to the symphonic sound, the melody and the harmony of music, because the Master is adding the Master’s touch.
We stand in awe of the child who, with an innocent spirit, can point out the heart of the matter. We must also stand in awe of childlike who with clear eyes and honest hearts can do the very same thing.
It is a blessing to be a part of the Master’s presentation…to hear the voice of the Master saying to our hearts, “Don’t quit. Keep playing.” The Jewish author, Pamela Greenberg, in her 2010 translation of the Book of Psalms, often has, as part of the introduction to the Psalm, the words, “For the Conductor of the Eternal Symphony”. Indeed, “God is [our] strength” and any glory that comes to us is a reflection of the Glorious One, who calls us and takes what little we can accomplish and makes it amazing. Let us marvel at the human spirit that keeps on keeping on in the face of what sometimes seem like overwhelming odds and let us know that we do not labor alone. Not only is the Master making miracles with our toil, but we, toiling together, are making miracles for our God. We are blessed and we are blessing! A light to the nations! We have obligations: To see God’s glory, to show God’s glory, to be God’s glory to the ends of the earth!
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