Awesome Responsibility

We have been preparing Bach's Cantata BWV 78 "Jesu Der du meine Seele" in rehearsals this week, working towards a large concert program next weekend. As we delve more deeply into the intricacies of this work, and the beautiful knitting together of text and music, I am overwhelmed by the awesome responsibility it is to sing a work of this magnitude, and be able to offer it as worship at a time such as this.

The translation for the final Chorale movement, (which is the summation of the Cantata) reads:

Lord, I believe, help my weakness,
Let me never despair;
You, You can make me stronger,

when sin and death assail me.
I will trust in Your goodness,
until I joyfully see
You, Lord Jesus, after the battle
in sweet eternity.

This message is extremely challenging and poignant for us as Nation. The horrific events at the Boston Marathon and the explosions and devastation in Texas have left many of us completely undone...
I pray that those of us singing might do justice to this music with every fiber of ourselves, so that the powerful words of comfort might be a balm to those thousands in shock and anguish around us, and might bring consolation to those personally affected by these tragedies.