'Handel'-ing the Holidays

“Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: … The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” (Isaiah 40:1-5).

These words and others from the King James Bible were fashioned by Charles Jennens into a text for a new sacred oratorio dealing with Christ’s birth, death and resurrection. Jennens was an 18th Century English landowner and patron of the arts and a friend of George F. Handel.

The German-born Handel was now the leading composer in London, the capital city of a far-flung world empire. Having recovered from a stroke and suffered various business losses, Handel was inspired by these Biblical promises and the following texts to compose"Messiah", a musical work for choir, soloists and orchestra that is one of the crowning achievements of Western civilization.

During the twenty-four straight days Handel poured himself into the composition he never left his house and barely came out of his room. A servant who brought him his meals said, “He was praying, or he was weeping, or he was staring into eternity.” Just after writing the “Hallelujah Chorus,” Handel said, “I did think I did see all Heaven before me and the great God Himself.”

These Biblical prophecies were later realized in the coming of John the Baptist to prepare the way for Jesus, but they still speak to us today. Are you troubled? Do you have stress and turmoil in your life, unexpected trials or regrettable sorrows? Are you searching for meaning in your life, or are you just plain overwhelmed by it all?

As we hasten to prepare for Christmas and a New Year and all that life tomorrow will bring, God still calls us with words of hope and comfort and invites us to turn to him. In the next few days take time to read the Bible, listen to "Messiah", or other uplifting religious music, take time to pray, participate in a worship service, and don’t forget the needs of others. (Handel’s annual benefit concerts for his favorite charity − London's Foundling Hospital, a home for abandoned and orphaned children—always included Messiah.)

Later in the composition, Handel set to music these words: “Come unto him, all ye that labour, come unto him, that are heavy laden, and he will give you rest. Take his yoke upon you, and learn of him; for he is meek and lowly of heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. His yoke is easy, and his burthen is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

To this all we can say is “Hallelujah!”

Ron Marenchin of Trinity Lutheran Church.

This article originally appeared on Ashland Times Gazette: Let Handel's words lighten the holiday season