12-13-21<\/p>\n
Certain holiday songs are appropriate on certain holidays, naturally; and others seem inappropriate at any other times of the year. \u201cI\u2019m Dreaming Of a White Christmas\u201d might soon be labeled as Politically Incorrect, but in the meantime would be out of tune, so to speak, if sung in the middle of August. But… we always can dream.<\/p>\n
Similarly odd, or anomalous, is the incidence of songs that are relevant at any<\/em> time of the year but are relegated to one season only. Shoved into the storage closet, as it were. Handel\u2019s The Messiah<\/em> is an oratorio about the entire life of Jesus, from prophesies 700 years previous to His birth (in Isaiah) to His Incarnation, crucifixion, resurrection, and Ascension. Its performance is appropriate at any, and all, times during the year. But it is consigned to the Christmas season, and seldom heard otherwise, even in parts.<\/p>\n And some holiday music, church hymnody, shifts outside its logical boxes.<\/p>\n One of the most significant musical pieces (and indeed, sermon topic or cited prayer) is what has come to be called, from its Latin name, the Magnificat<\/em>. It is the very simple, very brief prayer offered by Mary concerning one of the most profound events in the history of humankind: the Incarnation. God became man to dwell among us.<\/p>\n The angel Gabriel visited Mary and told her she was chosen to to bear the Savior, who would be conceived as a miracle by the Holy Spirit. Overwhelmed, humbled, and full of Grace, she knew the prophesy that a virgin would conceive, and\u2026 her prayer was a reaction that the Messiah would be her son.<\/p>\n Her cousin Elizabeth, herself pregnant with the future John the Baptist, visited her. As recorded in the first chapter of Luke:<\/p>\n When Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, <\/em>[her] babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit\u2026 \u201cAs soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n And Mary said:<\/em><\/p>\n “My soul magnifies the Lord, And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. Many thoughts and blessings and lessons can be inspired by that simple but profound prayer. Imagine her thoughts\u2026 her humility\u2026 her responsibility\u2026 her coming sorrow (for she knew the whole of prophecy, from Scripture)\u2026 the favor of God Almighty.<\/p>\n One aspect we might note is how the unborn child in Elizabeth\u2019s womb leaped for joy at the mention of the coming Messiah. A lesson, surely, to those who deny the humanity of the unborn.<\/p>\n I mentioned the \u201cshifting\u201d days of observance in church and holiday music; surely Mary had nine months until the birth of Jesus; yet Advent, properly named for what is profitable to contemplate, is an appropriate time to think about the Magnificat<\/em> \u2013 how Mary confessed that her soul \u201cmagnified\u201d the Lord.<\/p>\n Just as deceptively simple but utterly profound \u2013 in a musical context \u2013 is the Magnificat<\/em> by Johann Sebastian Bach. If you are not familiar with it, and if you have ever listened to Handel\u2019s The Messiah<\/em>, I really urge you to open the video performance linked below. Very much shorter than Handel’s oratorio \u2013 surely an \u201coasis\u201d you can find amid holiday busyness \u2013 it is a miracle composed by the greatest of humankind\u2019s music masters.<\/p>\n I devoted attention to its multiple aspects in my biography of Bach (who has been called \u201cthe Fifth Evangelist,\u201d and, had he been Catholic, would have been declared a saint). And I spoke about this work at the magnificent 150-year-old St Paul\u2019s Episcopal Church in Flint MI at their Bach Festival some years ago.<\/p>\n As a musical genius but also as a Bible scholar, Bach\u2019s exegesis of Mary\u2019s prayer, employing no other text, sometimes focuses on one word (e.g., \u201cMagnificat\u201d) or two; \u201cOmnes Generationes\u201d takes Mary\u2019s awe-struck realization that \u201call generations\u201d will call her blessed. Groups within the choir sing \u201call generations\u201d over and over, high and low, over each other, in tender harmony\u2026 and one has the impression of the hosts of Heaven raining down praises.<\/p>\n Any mere description is unworthy: it must be heard. Bach composed it in 1723, shortly after his appointment to St Thomas Church in Leipzig. Our video features a performance in an old church, and on period instruments of Bach\u2019s day.<\/p>\n May I suggest, in this Advent season, assisted by the supernal music of Johann Sebastian Bach, that we pause to contemplate the miracle \u2013 and God\u2019s miracle plan \u2013 of this season. The Creator of the Universe emptied Himself to become human, to remind us that He knows our sorrows and joys and hurts and hopes; and that He offered this Son as a sacrifice against the price justly required for our rebellion and sins.<\/p>\n
\nFor He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed.<\/em>
\nFor He who is mighty has done great things for me, And holy is His name.
\nAnd His mercy is on those who fear Him From generation to generation.
\nHe has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.<\/em>
\nHe has put down the mighty from their thrones, And exalted the lowly.
\nHe has filled the hungry with good things, And the rich He has sent away empty.
\nHe has helped His servant Israel, In remembrance of His mercy,
\nAs He spoke to our fathers, To Abraham and to his seed forever.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n