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John Kuzma
Minister of Music
Friends,
In "The Leopard," Giuseppi di Lampedusa's remarkable 1958 novel about revolutionary change in 19th century Italy, we hear a young soldier say "If things are to remain just as they are, things have got to change." The old aristocracy was facing democratic revolution, the Resurgimiento, and the "Leopard" Don Fabrizio Corbera, Prince of Salina, Sicily, is caught and undone by political events.
It is worth remembering that "things as they are" while transitory, have permanence as well. Sic transit gloria mundi (thus passes worldly glory) is an axiom of the wise for good reason. My attempts at interpreting our traditions' permanence truthfully are my efforts to sort through all this myself. Anyone who reads history will attest that things as recounted have always been dreadful, and never worse.
How about a musical example? Composer Claudio Monteverdi (1567 - 1643) and Giovani Artusi (1540 - 1613) had a famous clash about rules and creativity. Monteverdi was breaking rules, trying new sounds. Artusi couldn't take it and accused Monteverdi of ruining musical art. Does this sound familiar?
Monteverdi's music is still admired and performed today. His work is part of whole, a continuum, a stone in the permanent bed rock of musical structure. We now know that Monteverdi heard things that others did not, but now all do, at least partly because of his efforts. Gee, one could say "If things are to remain just as they are, things have got to change."
Peace,
John
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The Rev. Ian Gregory Cummins
Lead Pastor of Spiritual Life
Hello everyone,
The airwaves seem full of talk these days about the level of violence in our culture and how to reduce it. Much of it centers on gun violence, but there is also discussion around mental health, violence in the media and the ways that poverty, isolation, and other things contribute as well. Here at Montview we will have an open-ended discussion about violence next Sunday, February 3rd, during the 9:15 Adult Education hour, which I hope you will attend and lend your voice to. I am confident that we can speak to one another about this difficult topic in ways that are respectful, calm, and considerate of each other's viewpoints. In doing so, we can model for others the possibility of constructive dialogue, even when we disagree.
In light of next Sunday's discussion, this Sunday I am going to try to give us some theological and biblical "food for thought" on the subject. I'm going to stray from the lectionary and use a passage that is not often quoted. On the night that Jesus was arrested he tells the disciples:
"'When I sent you out without a purse, bag, or sandals, did you lack anything?' They said, 'No, not a thing.' He said to them, 'But now, the one who has a purse must take it, and likewise a bag. And the one who has no sword must sell his cloak and buy one.'" Luke 22: 35 - 36
If you can, read all of chapter 22, as it puts this quote in context. Was Jesus telling the disciples they may need to use force to defend themselves? It appears so. But just a few verses later, when one of the disciples uses his sword, Jesus says, "No more of this!" The story speaks to the complexity of the situation Jesus found himself in...and perhaps to the complexity of our own situation as well. See you Sunday. Grace and goodness,
Ian
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