Psalm Offering 9 Opus 7 – A prayer for the conversion of human hearts and society to God’s justice.
I composed the entirety of Opus 7 in the year 2017 following the elections of 2016. There was a rise of attacks against immigrants, the sick, the poor, people of color and people of different religions in out nation. The story behind the Book of Lamentations came to mind, how Israel turning its back on God is destroyed by a foreign power, its downfall and suffering largely of its own making. The author of Lamentations not only focuses on the suffering of a conquered nation, but why it happened.
The music I composed was a product of my meditation on this rather short book in the Bible. It ended up evolving into a musical religious retreat, where the music is part of an overall reflection of each passage from Lamentations.
The format I suggest is to hear the music. Then read the passage or passages, reflect on the questions, then listen to the music again. Since the music is composed in scales other than the normal major/minor scales to which we are normally accustomed, the music has a more esoteric quality about it, a little other worldly.
What I present to you in this blog is the music, then the scripture passages and questions upon which to reflect. I suggest then to listen once more to the music.
Psalm Offering 9 Opus 7: (c) 2017, Robert Charles Wagner. All rights reserved.
A prayer for the conversion of human hearts and society to God’s justice.
But you, O Lord, reign forever; your throne endures to all generations. Why have you forgotten us completely? Why have you forsaken us these many days? Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored; renew our days as of old. (Lamentations: 5: 19-21, NRSV)
I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances. (Ezechial 36: 25-27, NRSV)
“Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise. (Ephesians 5: 14b-15, NRSV)
And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. (1 John 3: 23-24, NRSV)
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15: 12, NRSV)
REFLECTION: Conversion is central to human life, human hearts and human society if we are to reshape ourselves to live the justice of God. The duality of light and darkness in John’s Gospel is revealed all around us. So many people dwell and operate out of the darkness of our world, in which the highest principle is best summed in the question, “What’s in it for me?” We see it in our government, in our political parties, in business, and in all strata of human life. One could be overwhelmed by the hopelessness of such a suppression of light. Yet, like fireflies on a darkened night, there are many whose light illuminates the deep darkness of the world. Their light is fueled by the Great Commandment of Jesus to love as he loved. The light of God shines in these people, and as we encounter them in their daily lives, the light of God becomes contagious as all begin to desire the peace, the serenity, and joy that fills the lives of these people. And, so this musical prayer is exuberant, joy-filled, and filled with light. May we all join in on this dance of life, this dance of light, this dance of God’s justice!
QUESTIONS TO PONDER: Do others see me as a child of God’s light, compassion and love, or a child of darkness and hate? Am I willing to sacrifice myself for the common good of all, or do I think only of myself and no one else? Am I a sower of discord and disharmony, or do I seek to sow unity and harmony? Am I willing to make the Great Commandment of Jesus, to love God and neighbor primary in my life?
ABOUT THE MUSIC: This is in the form of a Grand Waltz. As primarily a musician, I have played dances, but never have been much of a dancer. In my mind’s eye, I see the Reign of God as one in which all of humanity joins in a great, joyful, resplendent waltz with God. The primary melody of the waltz is in the key of F Lydian mode. The form of the song is Rondo form in which the A melody is heard time and time again amidst a number of other and more secondary melodies, some of these melodies being long and some of them lasting only a few measure. The form of this song is AABAACADAAEA Coda.
