Reading: John 1:29-34 (NRSV)
Song: Canticle of the Turning (lyrics here)
Reflection
When I taught writing at a local film school one of my favorite exercises was to break down the narrative structure of a good story. The students and I would watch a classic film and talk about concepts such as inciting incidents, rising action, story climax points, and resolutions as we mapped them out in the movie we were watching.
On important screenplay concept we would discuss was “turning points,” those places in the story where the narrative direction would shift, the stakes would be raised, and the pace would quicken. We would watch films and try to anticipate turning points, asking ourselves, “What moments did we see approaching which would change everything?”
The arrival of Jesus on earth is the biggest turning point in human history, and John the Baptist is one of the primary voices to announce it:
“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, ‘Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’” (v. 29)
Think of everything that changes because of Jesus—it’s a list that is to exhaustive to complete. We saw in the lectionary passages from this past Sunday how Isaiah poetically describes it:
“Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.
And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (Isaiah 40:4-5)
There is no greater turning than a complete reversal of everything that has come before. That’s the kind of turning Jesus brings, and it’s captured powerfully in today’s song by Rory Cooney.
For your time of prayer and devotion today, you are invited to read the lyrics to “Canticle of the Turning” slowly and prayerfully: How do these words echo you own heart’s cry? What “turnings” do you most desire to see in the world today? In your own life? Offer those desires to God and ask him to remind you of his power to make the world over in ways that more and more resemble his kingdom.
My soul cries out with a joyful shout
that the God of my heart is great,
And my spirit sings of the wondrous things
that you bring to the ones who wait.
You fixed your sight on your servant’s plight,
and my weakness you did not spurn,
So from east to west shall my name be blest.
Could the world be about to turn?
(REFRAIN) My heart shall sing of the day you bring.
Let the fires of your justice burn.
Wipe away all tears, for the dawn draws near,
and the world is about to turn!
Though I am small, my God, my all,
you work great things in me,
And your mercy will last from the depths of the past
to the end of the age to be.
Your very name puts the proud to shame,
and to those who would for you yearn,
You will show your might, put the strong to flight,
for the world is about to turn. (REFRAIN)
From the halls of power to the fortress tower,
not a stone will be left on stone.
Let the king beware for your justice tears
ev’ry tyrant from his throne.
The hungry poor shall weep no more,
for the food they can never earn;
There are tables spread, ev’ry mouth be fed,
for the world is about to turn. (REFRAIN)
Though the nations rage from age to age,
we remember who holds us fast:
God’s mercy must deliver us
from the conqueror’s crushing grasp.
This saving word that our forebears heard
is the promise which holds us bound,
‘Til the spear and rod can be crushed by God,
who is turning the world around. (REFRAIN)