Today is Good Friday, and the first night of Passover. Both Easter and Passover mark pivotal turning points for the Judeo-Christian faiths– the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, and the liberation of the Jews from slavery in Egypt.
Tonight, Jewish families will gather around their dinner tables and share the story of the Exodus; on Sunday, churches will be packed with believers recalling God’s greatest sacrifice. Both faiths will reach out to God in thanks for what he has given us. And how do we reach out? Not only with prayer, but with song.
Why do we sing? Perhaps it’s because we know how much emotion music is able to stir within us. If we’re made in God’s image, then it stands to reason that he would be stirred in a similar way when we bring our voices together in harmony for him.
I saw a touching video today about the power of music. It’s a clip from an upcoming documentary, Alive Inside:
What struck me is how music brings Henry back to life. His deteriorating health has seemingly shut him down…but when he hears the music, it’s as if new blood has been pumped into his veins. He sings, he moves to the beat. He’s been liberated from his previous condition. He’s undergone a small resurrection himself.
I love what Henry says at the end of the video: “[Music] gives me the feeling of love, romance. I figure right now the world needs to come into music… The Lord came to me and made me holy, I’m a holy man. So he gave me these sounds.”
This weekend, let us sing loud and proud as we thank God for his miracles—the best way to feel a small part of the euphoria our ancestors experienced when they witnessed them.
You can listen to a traditional Jewish Passover song, Dayenu, at the chabad.org website.
Dayenu means, “it would have been enough for us.” The song says that if God only performed one of the many miracles of Passover, it would have sufficed, but he went above and beyond for our freedom, survival, and happiness.
As we all know from Mysterious Ways stories, that’s still true today. We may not see the Red Sea part, but sometimes something much smaller can touch us in a powerful way… like a song.
Best wishes to everyone this weekend. Keep an eye out for the miracles you encounter on Easter and Passover. We’d love you to share them with us.
