On Calling

The choir was photographed today; every musician turned up. Result: richness, depth and resonance in every part. Every voice, every singer pure and precious. Every listener, every pair of ears beyond price.

            The sanctuary: half clergy, half laity. A congregation often includes clergy, participating from the pews, taking the responsive role in the sacred call and response.

            Paul, today, calling the Gospel free of charge. What would the charge otherwise be? Paul doesn’t think receiving payment would be honourable for him.The Gospel is free. You have to give it away.

            It thence becomes a gift.

            In all cultures, a gift requires a response. A gift seeks, cements, provokes friendship. The liturgy is call and response. Rather than thinking of a calling as a means of separation between clergy and laity, we could think of it as music. How can there be call and response with no response?

            The calling of the laity is to return the gift. I am one of this responsive choir. The liturgy — call and response — should be seamless. Furthermore, this gift of the Gospel seeks its return through being passed on. You have to give it away. Free of any kind of charge.