COMFORTING LYRICS OF HANDEL’S MESSIAH

Last evening Christine and I attended the Bell Centre performance of Handel's Messiah with the Surrey City Orchestra and the Vancouver Bach Choir and select soloists. No doubt you are very familiar with this oratorio. The oratorio is a marvel when I think that George Frederik Handel accomplished this 53 movement, 3-Part masterpiece, musical score and theological assembly of scriptural themes in about a month. For believers the sound of the words unites us immediately to the heart of God and the history of his dealings with humanity through all of the Old and New Testament times. And now in our time, His word has not changed. Part Three is shortest, the finale and I have placed here the movement numbers and titles and the scripture used because as I listened last night my heart was so gladdened, so uplifted, so confident that my Saviour lives. I know these recitations will lean so much to you too. 

45. I Know That My Redeemer Liveth
I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day
upon the earth. And though worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall
I see God. (Job 19:25-26) - For now is Christ risen from the dead, the first fruits of them that sleep. (I Corinthians 15:20)

Is Our Society Ready to Castrate Boys So They Sing High?

Handel's Messiah. What possible connection can there be with castration?  Christine and I will attend a performance of Handel's Messiah oratorio tonight. This event prompts a personal observation that the composition never intended. I will pave the way a bit. The oratorio contains three Parts, 16 Scenes and 53 movements in which are numerous solo pieces for soprano, alto/contralto, tenor and bass voices. In 1741 when Handel first presented his Messiah oratorio in Dublin, the women soloists were soprano Christina Maria Avoglio and Susannah Cibber, an established stage actress and contralto. The female roles and the date are important to note. 

Tonight the alto (contralto) sections will be sung by a male counter-tenor. Alto is customarily a female vocal range. Counter-tenor is a male voice that naturally and through training is the equivalent of soprano, mezzo-soprano or contralto. It's a unique and somewhat remarkable sound. 

There is a stunning back-story to a high-pitched male voice. Centuries ago, boys were castrated so they could sing the high notes that some counter tenors can reach. 

QUESTIONS WITHOUT CENSURE

I have lived over three quarters of a century as I write this. All of my life has been spent with an awareness of a supernatural God with whom I was encouraged to have a relationship through faith, and whom I truly believe I have come to know. My knowledge is still minimal, even though I have spent an entire lifetime informing others how to meet God, and trust God and live for God. In a sense God is enigmatic, unknowable. The incarnation of Christ is an exquisite gift. For suddenly in earth time, invisible God made himself known to humanity by becoming what we are, human. Biographies about Jesus were written by persons who lived with him. Yet since deity inspired them to write, their words became his autobiography. As Jesus lived and taught and prayed, he informed contemporaries and me about eternal and celestial certainties.  He made it clear that he is one of a trinity of persons who comprise God. He called God his father, and taught his disciples to enjoy that familiarity too. He told listeners who believed in God, to also believe in him. His biographers told of hearing God’s voice from heaven announcing that Jesus was his beloved son in whom he was very pleased. Jesus told disciples that he himself was God, and that he and the father are one. He said that being able to see him was the same as seeing the Father. When he knew he was about to die, he promised that he would send another comforter, the same as himself, whom he named as the Holy Spirit who now would not only be with his followers as he himself had been, but would dwell inside them. With the indwelling Spirit, living Christlike lives became a valid opportunity. Being holy as God is holy was once a command, and now became a probability. This assurance is gifted to every person who takes Jesus at his word. He came that we might have life that lasts forever.

I only know about God what he himself has divulged, and that's a library of information.  Even so, I said that my knowledge of God is minimal because the more that I learn about God, the more inquiries arise in my mind. Not questions born from skepticism but rather from interest. God encourages my freedom to ask questions by being ever ready to provide responses. His responses come from my reading and re-reading scripture, and reading other respected students and scholars, and dialoguing with other seekers who can embrace questions without censure.