Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has always been a special time of the year for my family. I can remember, years ago, having a big outdoor feast with my cousins, uncles, aunts, brothers, parents and grandparents. As a family deeply involved with agriculture, it was a time of the year to thank God for the blessings of a good crop and for the protection he granted in times of need. The tradition of giving thanks has changed as I have not been around Canada in the fall for the last 5 years. Yet, I still celebrate this holiday. Yesterday, in honor of Canadian Thanksgiving, I drafted a short list of specific things I am thankful for this year. The list is in no particular order.

· I am thankful that last year of school got done without me die-ing

· I am thankful for a good summer of dirtbiking, time spent with family and a good crop of apples and cherries.

· I am thankful for a family that loves me and accepts my eccentricities

· I am thankful for a great, inspiring organ teacher, and the joy of studying organ and music

· I am thankful for a good roommate

· I am thankful for the friends I have

· I am exceedingly thankful for God’s help on the MCAT and for the good score he gave me

· I am most thankful for God, and the experience of the MCAT this summer. It was a growing experience. I am thankful for my deeper relationship with Him. I am thankful for his sustaining grace, and the help he renders in my times of need. I am thankful for His sacrifice.

Crucifixus

Recently I read a treatise on Bach's b minor mass. I learned many new things, some relating to form, others regarding the use of ritornello, and still other things on symbolism. But, perhaps the most important insight I gained was not a strictly musicological fact relating to some arcane detail or fact not previously realized but a greater understanding of Bach's mind and understanding of the passion of Christ. You see, the meat of theological meaning in the Latin Ordinary is the Nicene Creed. The creed is a statement of belief. For Bach, and the approximately twelve hundred years of tradition predating him, the creed stood as the essence of Christianity. But, as the author (John Butt) pointed out the most important part of the creed is the text dealing with the death and resurrection of Christ. Interestingly enough, Bach, when composing his Missa, separated two verses of text and effectively added a movement. Yet, what is so utterly profound is that his added movement is right at the very center of this part of the mass and deals solely with the crucifixion of Christ. To Bach, as to all other Lutherans of that age, the crucifixion of Christ was to be the non-negotiable center of life, and to this end, Bach even took care to frame his Missa as centered around the crucifixion.

This reminded me of a piece of poetry for my favorite hymn O Sacred Head Now Wounded.

What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered

Was All for sinners' gain;

Mine, mine was teh transgression,

But Thine the deadly pain.

Lo Here I fall, my savior!

'Tis i deserve Thy place;

Look on me with Thy favor,

Vouchsafe to me Thy grace.

Yes, tis I deserve thy place. O lord, take me life, as I fall to thee, and grant me your grace! Help me to make you, and your crucifixion and sacrifice my daily thought! May my life be centered on you.