Warm, expressive, and richly poetic, “My Beloved Sets for Me a Banquet from Above” by Benjamin M. Culli arranges Stephen P. Starke’s communion text with tender lyricism and gentle, unfolding beauty. Moments of expressive rubato and rising intensity culminate in a confident proclamation of Christ’s gracious invitation to His feast. This anthem is an excellent choice for Holy Communion, Maundy Thursday, or any service highlighting the comfort and generosity of the Savior’s Table.
Exploring the Text: Stanza 1 and Refrain
My Beloved sets for me
A banquet from above
And over me He stretches forth
The banner of His love.
“Come, both great and least,”
Calls our great High Priest,
“I, with My own flesh and blood,
Will feed you at My feast.”
The first stanza and refrain allude to Jesus’ parable of the wedding feast in Matthew 22. In this parable, a king hosts a wedding feast for his son. He sends his servants to gather those who were invited, but they are deemed unworthy. So the king sends his servants to collect a new slate of guests, both good and bad, to join the feast. In the wedding hall, one guest is found without a wedding garment and is ejected. Jesus warns: “Many are called, but few are chosen” (v. 14).
Starke’s text likens the wedding feast in this parable to the Lord’s Supper. In this Sacrament, Christ calls the faithful—both great and least—to join one another at His Table. There, He feeds us with His body and blood. This invitation is extended to His Bride, the church, to this great, eucharistic marriage feast.
Exploring the Text: Stanzas 2 Through 4
My delight is in the shade
Beneath His holy tree;
How sweet the taste, how fair the fruit
That falls from Calvary!
Yea, my ev’ry fear is gone
Within His strong embrace;
His loving arms that bore my shame
Assure me of His grace.
We are robed in purest white
As Christ’s beloved bride,
Made clean by water and the blood
That flowed from Jesus’ side!
The guest who was removed from the wedding feast in the parable was found without a wedding garment. In the Lord’s Supper, we are covered with the forgiveness of sins, made clean by Christ through His means of grace. On the cross, water and blood flowed from Jesus’ pierced side. The waters of Holy Baptism and blood poured onto our lips in the Lord’s Supper cover our iniquity and make us worthy to stand before Christ as His beloved, spotless bride.
In this life, we find comfort and rest beneath the tree of the cross where our salvation was accomplished. The fruits of that tree are delivered to us again and again through the body and blood of our Lord and Savior in the Sacrament.
Enhancing the Text with Stunning Musical Work
Culli’s musical arrangement features a gentle, rolling piano accompaniment underneath deliberate, lyrical phrases. The first stanza and refrain feature unison treble voices. The second stanza unfolds into four parts, sung a cappella. Unison bass voices sing the third stanza before the refrain returns, this time in four parts, sung a cappella. A modulation from E major to D-flat major precedes the final stanza, sung in four parts with the accompaniment. The piece concludes with the refrain one last time, sung a cappella and back in E major.
The parable of the wedding feast from Matthew appears in the lectionary on the Twentieth Sunday after Trinity in the one-year lectionary and on Proper 23A in the three-year lectionary. But, this piece would be fitting as a choral arrangement during the distribution of the Lord’s Supper at any Divine Service. It would also be a fine musical choice for a wedding.
Scripture: ESV®.
Text © 2014 Stephen P. Starke; admin. CPH.
Play this piece by Stephen P. Starke and Benjamin M. Culli at an upcoming worship service by ordering the sheet music below.
