Whatever faith you may profess, if at all, let’s agree on two things:
- Around 2,000 years ago a man went around saying it was better to love than hate, said it a lot and said it out loud. He was killed for doing so. There is of course a lot more to the story but if only for that, it’s right to remember him.
- This aria (“Have mercy, my God”) is just a short segment from one of Bach’s greatest works and you don’t need to be a Christian to be moved by its beauty. For what it’s worth. I was once at in a cathedral in South America and heard Bach being recited on a Good Friday (though not this particular piece). It was, in the root meaning of the word, truly a religious experience.
Youtube here. Please enjoy your Easter weekend.