Psalm Reflection: The Ascension of the Lord - Cycle C

“God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.” - Psalm 47

Trumpets are divas.

When I played in symphonic band in college, it was always the brass instruments, particularly the trumpets, who were given notes to not be so loud. Yet, all of the brass instruments also have the capability of conveying incredible warmth, power and inspiration when they are played well.

One of my all time favorite classical pieces to listen to is Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90, by Johannes Brahms. I could listen to the warm, powerful brass in the opening thirty seconds at full volume over and over again, but the entire piece is gorgeous. Or, if you want to hear brass instruments beautifully showcased, listen to The Planets, Op. 32 - 4. Jupiter, the Bringer of Jollity by Gustav Holst. Incredible.

The point is, when played the right way, trumpets have this amazing jubilant, inspirational and victorious tone that always stands out. Hence, they are sometimes characterized like divas.

In the Bible, trumpets are mentioned all over the place, particularly in association with the powerful presence of God, worship, victory in battle, and the ultimate triumph of good over evil. (Exodus 20:18, Nehemiah 4:14, 1 Maccabees 5:33, Zechariah 9:14, Revelation 11:15)

However, when good triumphed over evil on the cross, no one was blowing trumpet blasts or experiencing the joy and power of God. I imagine a lot of Jesus’ followers felt like they were powerless and that Jesus’ mission had been a complete failure. But Jesus knew what He was doing. On the night of the Last Supper, He tells His disciples:

You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father… - John 14:8

and

But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. - John 16:7

They did not want Him to go away. They never understood Jesus’ predictions of His suffering and death, and when they got an inkling they expressed their desire to stop it (Matthew 16:21-23). If Jesus did not die, He could not rise and mount His throne. He could not prove that He has power over sin and death. That is why He warns the disciples, tries to prepare them, and even reinforces His statements that it is necessary and BETTER for Him to go so the power of God can be manifested in and through them when the Holy Spirit comes.

They could not have foreseen God’s plans, and even if they had they would have tried to stop them out of a lack of understanding.

We do the same thing. We think we know what we want or need, we try to put God in a box and simply ask Him to bless our wishes instead of asking God what He wants us to do. We are like blaring trumpets playing out of sync with the symphony of God’s will. We are spiritual divas and make it about ourselves. We confine God’s ability to our own limited understanding of what is possible.

A huge part of playing in a band or an orchestra is listening. You have to know the whole piece of music before you can understand how your part makes sense. You have to watch the conductor for your cues and read the music in front of you to know what to play. All the signs and instructions are given to you, but you still need to practice, pick up the instrument, and play. And when you do, you will either play the right thing or the wrong thing.

Many of us go through life trying to play a different song or instrument than we are intended to, because we are not listening. The prevailing worldviews of “do whatever makes you happy,” or “whatever feels good,” overtake the more fulfilling mission God offers us: to do what is true, good and beautiful. 

Do you see your life and the decisions you make as a significant part of God’s plan? They are. You have an important, vital part to play that no one else can. 

So, this week, listen to God in prayer. Watch for signs of the Divine Conductor at work in your life and pay attention to the music He is making all around you. Set aside your own plans and desires for a moment and prayerfully consider what unique part God is calling you to play. Trust that God always has something better waiting for us than we expect or deserve. Seek out His will and be willing to accept that your way might not be the best or only way. You play the trumpet, but God created the very idea of music itself; He probably knows what He is doing.

I am praying for you, please pray for me, and I will see you in the Eucharist.

Matt