The Miracle of Safety

In my daily encounters, I meet many people who have had serious injuries due to accidents of various kinds. One gentleman whom I met recently has told me of his most recent injury, requiring rotator cuff surgery. Yesterday he responded that he was hurting quite badly when I asked how he is doing. He said that changes in the weather cause his leg to hurt badly as years ago he fell from the back of a flatbed truck and broke his leg in eight places.

We tend not to realize how extremely frail our bodies are. It is truly a miracle that our bodies do not fall apart. We put our bodies through terrible tests and ordinarily they hold up. This is a miracle!

In my life I cannot count the times that I have had things happen, often by my own negligence, that could have caused me serious injury. In fact, by all rational explanation, these things should have caused me untold harm. The only explanation is that God intervened and kept me safe. Either by direct intervention and protection or through an angel, God has prevented harm from coming to me on many occasions where there is no explanation according to the physical laws of this world.

Sometimes I have thought that by being careful I have remained safe. That is simply idolatry. Certainly it is God’s will that I be careful and not tempt Him regarding my safety. Nevertheless, my caution and carefulness do not keep me from harm. God does.

This awareness is humbling. It is also cause for rejoicing. Such awareness gives understanding to the proper fear of God. What if God for even a moment withdrew His hand, His power? This is what we sinful humans express as our desire whenever we turn from Him so as to commit sin. This is what most people do with their life choices and their daily ignorance. Truly this is cause for terrible fear. Yet God, in His mercy, preserves the world, until the Gospel is preached and heard by all who will be saved. In our daily lives He gives us opportunity to see His gracious intervention on our behalf. Sometimes in big ways that we can only explain as miracles, other times He simply provides for us and keeps our bodies from falling to pieces, which we tend not even to notice.

Truly, in every way, our safety, our health, our happiness, our general welfare, is a miracle.

Sound of Music - Central Station Antwerp (Belguim)

Here is an example of the power of music to move people in their hearts, minds, spirits, and bodies.



This is a tiny example of the power of music and singing. Even though this is a silly little song, it demonstrates how much people enjoy music and the grandeur of singing.

It puzzles me that some people hear of the fact that among the many things foretold to us regarding the new life that is prepared for the saints in heaven that some people imagine that singing praises to God will be boring. Yet in this video one can clearly observe that singing is a joyful experience that is even more powerfully and overwhelmingly joyous when done in unison by all who are present.

The singing in heaven will not be silly. It will be a continuation of the joy that has begun in God’s Holy Communion of the Saints who know and live in the peace that surpasses all understanding. Just imagine what it will be like when Michael or Gabriel sound forth with the voice of an archangel. Imagine when all of the heavenly host join in. Imagine how this will resonate. Imagine how this will move the saints.

Now also imagine what life will be like when no one will ever hear said of one’s own voice, “That was terrible!” What will it be like when no one ever again fears being rejected by others? What will it be like when the sounds of music move one in the heart so as to want to hug and kiss the nearest person, and such reactions will be counted as normal so that no one ever anticipates having such a display of love to be rejected? What will it be like when every emotional response is pure and without sin so that the true freedom of a life of pure love is all that is ever experienced?

Will this not be cause for singing? Will this not be cause for singing forth with all of one’s being the praises of God and the Lamb who from eternity have established this for the saints? Could there be any more natural response?

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These two sites explain who was behind this Sound of Music treat at the Antwerp Central Station:

Centraal Station Antwerpen - Op zoek naar Maria
Antwerp central station dances to The Sound of Music

The Annunciation of Our Lord

The Annunciation of Our Lord is March 25. It is nine months prior to Christmas, December 25. Aardvark Alley has a nice post on this day of the annunciation or announcement by the angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary that she would carry the Lord in her womb and bear Him into the world.

One of the striking things about this is that in most years it falls during the season of Lent. This seems to me to be especially wonderful in accord with Gabriel’s words concerning the One to be born of the Virgin, first to Mary and then to Joseph.

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:26-35)

Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. (Matthew 1:18-21)

The announcement to Joseph especially emphasizes the Lenten theme: and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.

How wonderful! The preaching of Jesus Christ is always the preaching of Him crucified, for us and for our salvation. (1 Corinthians 2:2)