LBW #551, "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee"
Devotion
Beethoven embodied a subtle, soaring joy in the notes and cadences of this wonderful melody. “Joy,” as someone has said, “is happiness with depth.”
A world-class musician once listened to the singing audition of a young woman. Her beautiful voice had clarity and power. People were impressed and asked the musician what he thought. He replied, “Yes, it is a wonderful voice; when something breaks her heart she will be a wonderful singer.” Joy is a sort of happiness that has known sorrow, is acquainted with grief, and has emerged on the far side.
How does that joy come into our lives? Will it automatically come with suffering? No, it takes more. These words from the final stanza give us a clue: “Teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.” Joy can’t be grabbed. But as we love each other as Jesus has commanded, joy will tag along.
Prayer
Gracious God, lead us through the trials and sorrows of life. Deepen our happiness; deepen our love. Lift us to that joy divine. Amen.