A Real Celebration
There is nothing better for people to do than to eat, drink, and find satisfaction in their work. I saw that even this comes from the hand of God. Who can eat or enjoy themselves without God? Ecclesiastes 2:24-25 God’s Word
Who doesn’t love a good celebration? Yesterday the world celebrated Cinco de Mayo, ok, so maybe not the whole world, but lots of people. Cinco de Mayo revelers mark the occasion with parades, parties, mariachi music, Mexican folk dancing, and lots of food and fun.
Why does Cinco de Mayo generate such festivities? Surely it must be a major Independence Day celebration or at least some religious holiday that would create such excitement, but it’s not. The day marks the Mexican army’s victory over France at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. The win was more of a moral victory for Mexico than a strategic victory. Though a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, Cinco de Mayo has become a major celebration in the United States, focusing on commemorating Mexican culture and heritage. Here are some fun facts about Cinco de Mayo:
- Only 1 in 10 individuals know that Cinco de Mayo represents the Mexican victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla.
- 40% of Americans believe Cinco de Mayo marks Mexico’s Independence Day.
- It is not a federal holiday in Mexico.
- Sizable crowds, street festivals, live music, and dancing are all staples of celebrating.
- Mole Poblano is the official dish of Cinco de Mayo.
- Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston are known to hold the biggest events.
- 87 million pounds of avocados are purchased for Cinco de Mayo celebrations, more than any other time of the year! (from Bryan University website)
Celebrating Cinco de Mayo is a lot of fun but it is only once a year. However, another celebration takes place every week that should be just as lively and spirited. It is a festival of worship where millions gather globally to celebrate God.
Henry Sloane Coffin wrote, “If there is one characteristic more than others that contemporary public worship needs to recapture it is this awe before the surpassingly great and gracious God.” I feel Eugene Peterson translated Psalm 150 with a similar thought, that worship is a festive time of celebration.
“Hallelujah! Praise God in his holy house of worship, praise him under the open skies;
Praise him for his acts of power, praise him for his magnificent greatness;
Praise with a blast on the trumpet, praise by strumming soft strings;
Praise him with castanets and dance, praise him with banjo and flute;
Praise him with cymbals and a big bass drum, praise him with fiddles and mandolin.
Let every living, breathing creature praise God! Hallelujah!”
Now that is a celebration, and we get to do it Sunday after Sunday. “This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Ps 118:24
God welcomes all who will come to join in the celebration, and it doesn’t matter the age, gender, social influence, economic condition, ethnicity, or education. “When we worship together as a community of living Christians, we do not worship alone, we worship ‘with all the company of heaven.’” (Marianne Micks)
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24 NIV)
Job celebrated in worship even when he found himself in a desperate situation. With everything he loved gone, “Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship.” (Job 1:20)
A poor widow celebrated in worship even in an economic crisis. Jesus “saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins…she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” (Luke 21:1-4)
Paul and Silas celebrated in worship even in a hopeless situation. They were stripped, beaten, thrown into prison, and put in the inner dungeon cell with feet fastened in the stocks. Yet they were found, “praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.” (Acts 16:22-25)
Jesus celebrated in worship even when He knew pain and suffering lay ahead. “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)
Whether you celebrate Cinco de Mayo or not, it will not be a life-changing experience. However, celebrating God in worship will be a life-changing experience. Dallas Willard in The Great Omission said it well, “The first and most basic thing we can and must do is to keep God before our minds…This is the fundamental secret of caring for our souls. Our part in thus practicing the presence of God is to direct and redirect our minds constantly to Him…. If God is the great longing of our souls, He will become the polestar of our inward beings.”
Together we celebrate in worship as one “great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language” because “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” In this celebration of worship, we can echo the words of the heavenly angels, “Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”
God is great!
A conversation at church recently caused me to wonder if we are ready for the worship of heaven – someone commented that the music was too loud. It feels a bit like how Israel reacted when God spoke to them from the fire & cloud – it’s too much – we can’t take this! They told Moses – you go listen to God and then tell us what He says. I don’t think we are prepared for the throng of worshippers around the Throne!