Monday Reflections: Symphony No. 9

 “O Freunde, nicht diese Töne! Sondern laßt uns angenehmere anstimmen
Und freudenvollere Freude! Freude!”

— ‘Ode to Joy,’ Fredrick Schiller

Joy is that which compels us to celebrate life. We experience joy when, during the bleakest of circumstances, we move forward with the expectation that life continues to persist. Photo by Kathleen Barry, UM Communications.

One never knows what one might inspire. In 1785, poet Fredrick Schiller composed a poem, inspired by a friendship, in which he envisioned the peoples of the world not in enmity toward one another but in love for all. He began his poem with the words listed above. German is not one of the languages I know, so I enlisted Google’s help. They read, “O friends, not these tones! But let us strike up more pleasant ones and more joyful… joy! joy!” Schiller was calling his readers to live in joy.

Not long after he wrote his poem, Ode an die Freude fell into the hands of another artist. Inspired by it, he decided to compose music that evoked the poem’s sentiment. He was not merely content to compose a song but a symphony. Of course, I’m talking about Ludwig van Beethoven. After much personal turmoil, including loss of hearing, Beethoven premiered his last symphony in 1824. He insisted on conducting it himself. The story goes that after the last piece was performed, the audience stood in a frenzy of applause. Beethoven, with his eyes closed as in a trance, continued “conducting.” His deafness prevented him from hearing the end of his symphony or its effect on the audience. It took a performer to tap him on his arm to wake him and show him the people’s appreciation.

Last Sunday was the third Sunday of Advent. The third Sunday is a celebration of joy. The Christian Scripture readings for the day remind us of the bleakness of the time when Jesus was born. Mary’s Song, paired with John the Baptist’s imprisonment, is meant to remind us of their predicament. How can we experience joy amid suffering? Joy is that which compels us to celebrate life. We experience joy when, during the bleakest of circumstances, we move forward with the expectation that life continues to persist. Joy is not only knowing that spring will come. Joy is also knowing that there is beauty and life in the cold of winter. Maybe this is why Zadie Smith writes that “Joy is such a human madness.” I also know that joy sometimes surprises us, and that is necessary for us to continue living.

May joy be your companion. May you be surprised by it. And may you find all the reasons to celebrate life, even if it takes you all your life to see them.

Don’t know where to start? Check out this public flash mob performance of Ode to Joy.

Prayer

Joy everlasting, surprise us today with your presence. Amen.