Music of Heaven
Tune my spirit to the music of heaven. (from Brendan Liturgy, Part XVI in Celtic Daily Prayer)
The radio in my car is usually set to one of two channels.
Most of the time I listen to the local classical music station, WGUC. The music takes me to many places - the eras in which the pieces were composed, grand concert halls, pristine estates in the country, elegant sitting rooms. Sometimes I’m reminded of the opportunities I’ve had to hear such music live in Cincinnati and beyond. In listening to these works, I see myself as an elite, cultured woman.
The other channel is a station that plays popular music from the 80s until today. This music takes me back to high school and college days, longing to be part of the in-crowd, or just some crowd. These songs helped me to imagine myself beyond the awkward, shy girl I was. I pictured myself with the right friends, attending the popular parties, and wearing the latest fashions. In this other world I was accepted. When I hear these songs today, I’m back in that space with a false sense of what it took to belong.
Listening to this music and in these worlds, my spirit is tuned to these views of myself as a cultured woman or a shy high school girl. Neither of them are completely wrong, but lately I sense that they are taking me to places that are not necessarily tuned with God’s Kingdom. I can see idols emerge that turn me from trusting in God and His ways to trusting in myself and the world. Finding comfort in false images reveals that I think I can have control over life. I can feel the shallowness of these spirits as I turn off the radio. Nothing is left to hold on to when the music ends.
However, there is music that can shape our souls in the image of God. And, no, I’m not necessarily talking about the latest in Christian music or even favorite hymns, though it may include them. This music is a deeper reality that flows throughout the universe. We can get a taste from one of the earliest Christian hymns.
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:5-11)
In such music the universe weaves together in a physical rhythm that speaks to us of the Creator’s love. As the psalmist proclaims: “The heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1)
This music feeds our souls’ deepest needs - to hear and know that we are loved, that we have meaning, that God is for us. Not just for the moment that we hear it, but continually as its rhythm draws us to God. It lifts our beings into higher realms. Scripture and nature intimate that such music exists. Authors have also recognized this music and attempted to capture its essence. Dante evokes the idea of the music of the spheres in Canto VI of Paradiso as all the heavenly beings work in harmony to focus on Christ: “Differing voices join to sound sweet music, so do the different orders in our life render sweet harmony among these spheres” (124-126). In this image Dante seeks to show how a type of music holds together the universe. C. S. Lewis, in the Magician’s Nephew, has Aslan sing Narnia into being: “The Lion was pacing to and fro about that empty land and singing his new song. It was softer and more lilting than the song by which he had called up the stars and the sun; a gentle, rippling music” (64). The very creation comes out of music - and each part of creation has its own song.
Why music? As we see from our personal experiences and in watching people around us, our bodies and minds easily come into sync with the rhythms and associated lyrics. The question remains, to what music are our spirits’ tuned? As I recognize the power of music I long that the music that surrounds me leads me closer to resting in Jesus alone for my security and way. This is not a tiresome or forced way. The melodies of God’s Word, of his people, of the creative work that points to him, all help to tune my spirit to the music of heaven.
As Paul writes in Galatians that it is for freedom that Christ set us free (Galatians 5:1) and so the music of heaven is that of freedom. Being surrounded by this music, my spirit isn’t worried or let down. I don’t have to be other than what the Creator made me to be. Most importantly, I can freely dance and invite others along.
