1. The Song and the Singing
Peter Fitch, St. Croix Vineyard
Sunday, June 4, 2017

2. What a difference a change in light makes

4. John 1:1-13 (NASB)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light.

5. John 1:1-13
There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

6. Poetic, abstract (unlike other accounts)
Uses background of Greek philosophy (Divine Logos)
Logos speaks of Reason, of Communication, of Relationship, of Meaning
Also calls to mind Genesis 1:1-3
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.

7. Reminds me of other great thoughts . . .
Trinity: In beginning Word, Word with God, Word was God, in beginning with God (focus on 3 for both Word and God)
Makes me think of great music Composer, Performer, the Work itself
Both Genesis and John start with “In the beginning . . .” and a focus on “light”
For me, music can be a helpful image: what Song is playing?
How can I learn to sing along?

8. St. Augustine, Confessions
Formless and Void vs. Formed and Filled
Quote from my chapter, “The Influence of St. Augustine”
Word (Logos) is full of a life that brings light, though it can be resisted
A song is being sung that orders my existence
It brings structure, fullness, and meaning
As we read on in the Gospels we learn that it is all about justice, beauty, and compassion

9. Plato, The Republic (“The Simile of the Cave”)
Look again: There was the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

10. Light Shining in the Darkness
You get the idea of a song that is being sung near you, to gradually awaken you from slumber
It’s powerful, it can be playful, it has major and minor themes
It stirs you and makes you long to be better than you are, to be the best image of your self, to be full of justice, beauty and compassion

11. My Friday afternoon . . .
Taken with this passage from the middle of the night
Decided to read it, think about it
Sudden urge to memorize
Walking on the path, came upon someone who had just lost someone precious to him
Walked together for awhile
Suddenly realized in my attention and empathy, I myself was a song of friendship being sung to him

12. Yo Yo Ma and Ennio Morricone
Gabriel’s Oboe
(from The Mission)

13. Music from The Mission: Gabriel’s Oboe (Yo Yo Ma, Ennio Morricone)
What do you hear?
What aspects of justice, beauty and compassion are you being invited to participate in?
What will this look like in concrete terms?

14. Open your heart to a change of light
Be awakened by the song that God sings
Allow yourself to become the song if someone near you needs to be reminded of some aspect of justice, beauty, or compassion