Here's something you might be interested in.
The final section of Faure’s Requiem is in paradisum — in paradise. It is not a traditional text that is set for a requiem but is reserved for burial. Faure included it on his own volition.
The text seems pretty straight forward.
“May angels lead you into paradise; upon your arrival, may the martyrs receive you and lead you to the holy city of Jerusalem. May the ranks of angels receive you, and with Lazarus, once a poor man, may you have eternal rest.”
When we start to free ourselves of traditional concepts of heaven and paradise then this text opens up to us as does Faure’s music.
Jesus said, “The Kingdom of God is within you.” He also said, “On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.”
There is no “that day”. Today and everyday are “that day”. The kingdom of God is within us now. The holy city of Jerusalem in the text is that kingdom. The “New Jerusalem” isn’t something that is coming in some distant future. It is here now.
The kingdom of God isn't some fluffy city in the clouds with streets paved with gold. The kingdom of God is a participation in a higher level of consciousness. This consciousness is one of joy, love, and compassion. The teachings of Christ clearly define this consciousness.
"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." We always assume this means letting ourselves be killed so our friends can live. That makes sense to a nine-year-old. Think about it closely and ask yourself what that idea means besides some dramatic "take me not them" scenario.
In the text, the inclusion of Lazarus reminds us that the dead can rise again. Is it important that Lazarus’ body was reanimated and walked the earth a few more years before diminishing? No. It is not.
Lazarus died. We all die. Death is never the tragedy. Being dead your entire life is the tragedy.
Can we participate in the idea of what was once dead within us resurrecting and finding new life? Not just life but more abundant life? Yes, I think we can.
In Faure’s music, the treble voices sing the opening text and the men join on the word “Jerusalem”. It is a moment of music that sounds like rebirth. It sounds like the subtle recognition of the kingdom God within oneself.
The music perfectly expresses a higher consciousness whereas words and ideas and tone and text are all open to misinterpretation.
Jerusalem arrives just after the 1:00 mark.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-hEU0pmaBQ
The final section of Faure’s Requiem is in paradisum — in paradise. It is not a traditional text that is set for a requiem but is reserved for burial. Faure included it on his own volition.
The text seems pretty straight forward.
“May angels lead you into paradise; upon your arrival, may the martyrs receive you and lead you to the holy city of Jerusalem. May the ranks of angels receive you, and with Lazarus, once a poor man, may you have eternal rest.”
When we start to free ourselves of traditional concepts of heaven and paradise then this text opens up to us as does Faure’s music.
Jesus said, “The Kingdom of God is within you.” He also said, “On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.”
There is no “that day”. Today and everyday are “that day”. The kingdom of God is within us now. The holy city of Jerusalem in the text is that kingdom. The “New Jerusalem” isn’t something that is coming in some distant future. It is here now.
The kingdom of God isn't some fluffy city in the clouds with streets paved with gold. The kingdom of God is a participation in a higher level of consciousness. This consciousness is one of joy, love, and compassion. The teachings of Christ clearly define this consciousness.
"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." We always assume this means letting ourselves be killed so our friends can live. That makes sense to a nine-year-old. Think about it closely and ask yourself what that idea means besides some dramatic "take me not them" scenario.
In the text, the inclusion of Lazarus reminds us that the dead can rise again. Is it important that Lazarus’ body was reanimated and walked the earth a few more years before diminishing? No. It is not.
Lazarus died. We all die. Death is never the tragedy. Being dead your entire life is the tragedy.
Can we participate in the idea of what was once dead within us resurrecting and finding new life? Not just life but more abundant life? Yes, I think we can.
In Faure’s music, the treble voices sing the opening text and the men join on the word “Jerusalem”. It is a moment of music that sounds like rebirth. It sounds like the subtle recognition of the kingdom God within oneself.
The music perfectly expresses a higher consciousness whereas words and ideas and tone and text are all open to misinterpretation.
Jerusalem arrives just after the 1:00 mark.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-hEU0pmaBQ