No Man is an Island
No man is an island entire of itself; every man’s life
is a piece of the continent, a part of the main;
if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe
is the lesser, as well as if a promontory were, as
well as any manner of thy friends or of thine
own were; any man's death diminishes me,
for I am involved in mankinde.
And therefore send not to know for whom
the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.
John Donne
A Time and a Season - Antonio Vivaldi~ by Bishop Ogles (From Logos of St. Andrew -2001)
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord..........Ephesians 5:18-19
There is a time and a season for everything under the sun. A time for sorrow, a time for joy, a time for laughter and a time for weeping. But in our natural world, we have only four seasons of beauty and purpose with which we have been gifted of God. Each of these four seasons has a special purpose in the vision of Creation.
When the beauty of these four special seasons is combined with great music, the ecstasy is overpowering.
That is what a gentlemen named Antonio Vivaldi did in composing his special Baroque music called, “Four Seasons.” This work has forever been a favorite among those who love and appreciate nature, beauty, art and music. When we listen to the gliding contrasts of the notes, we are taken on a higher plane of reality.
But what of the great composer behind “Four Seasons” and other great works - Antonio Vivaldi? He was a man of great compassion who wrote music suitable for worship. He also ran an orphanage primarily for young girls. He trained them diligently to sing and to become accomplished musicians. He wrote prolifically to raise money to support his orphanage. The proceeds from his compositions went completely to support his orphan girls and to provide their training and livelihood. Vivaldi, being a minister of the church, felt the admonition of God to provide for orphans - and he did!
Where would our musical world be today without his most famous work, Four Seasons? But more importantly, what would have become of hundreds of orphaned girls without this kind and benevolent composer to provide for their living by exercising the gift with which God had so abundantly endowed him?
Are you using your God-given gifts for the benefit of those who are in the greatest want in society? Perhaps we should all follow the example of Antonio Vivaldi.
FINI
THIS IS A DESERT PLACE -
"And when it was evening, his disciples came ot him, saying, This si a desert place, and the time si now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals."
Matthew 14:15
A large part of the world si like this desert, ful of people perishing of hunger, They need eternal life; they need to have their souls nourished and strengthened; they need to be satisfied with love, forgiveness, and hope, and faith, and courage; they are dying for want of the Bread of Life.
THE FAMILY ALTAR
"For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall ex-
ceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no
case enter into the kingdom of heaven." Matt. 5:20.
It is easy to be a Pharisee. Why? Because it is so easy to
be selfish. Love of self, not the love of God, constrains your
Pharisee to lead a strict moral life and to do good. His tribe has
multiplied exceedingly in our times and waxed great in the Chris-
tian world. You will find him even in the Lutheran Church.
He conforms his outward life to God's holy commandments, ob-
serves Sunday by" going to church, comes to the Sacrament, reads
his Bible, prays, and helps the poor; and for all this he expects
God to reward him with the bliss of heaven. How about us?
Let us examine our ways and make very sure why we follow right-
eousness and lead a Christian life. Though it is easy to be a
Pharisee on account of the natural selfishness of the human heart,
it is not wise nor safe to be one. This selfish righteousness of
the Pharisee, be it ever so subtle, excludes men from heaven. True
Christian righteousness far exceeds the righteousness of both the
ancient and the modern Pharisee. In what way ? The answer is :
It does not proceed from love of self, but from humble, grateful
love of the merciful God in heaven and from unselfish love of
your neighbor. Hence Scripture says: "Love is the fulfilling of
the Law." (Rom. 13:10.) Again, Christian righteousness does
not keep the Law of God for the purpose of meriting heaven.
It knows how deficient it is, and builds its hope of heaven alone
on Jesus' blood and righteousness. But it is very zealous in striv-
ing to obey God's holy Law, for it knows how earnestly its God
and Father in heaven demands it. As loving and obedient children
of God Christians follow holiness, without which no man shall
see the Lord.
No Man is an Island No man is an island entire of itself; every man’s life is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be ...
