Last Thursday was Holy Thursday...which is the last "Mass" that is had for Catholics before Easter Sunday. For lots of reasons, I haven't been much of a Catholic for quite a while. But recently, I met a very unusual pastor, and I was just telling him all my questions and doubts, and he was pretty cool with that. He told me if nothing else, try to come to church during the week leading up to Easter. He actually thanked me for talking to him with a good, healthy skepticism. His house was filled with Beatles memorbilia...one generation older than me. It was a weird day.
Bono's spirituality has long been an integral part of my following U2. The lyrics and the music of so many songs have kind of kept me interested in God and the big questions, for years. I read the book "Walk On: The Spiritual Journey of U2" with some interest. It was OK, but I actually see a lot more spiritual references in U2 than the author did. Anyway, I'll get to my point.
Like I said, lately, I've been drawn back to something...to my faith, I guess. I decided to go to church on Thursday. I was listening to Bono's "Falling at your feet" on the way over...not unusual for me. I was listening to the service, but not that intently. Then, after the first reading, the pastor starts with the responsorial psalm saying "What can we give back to God for the Blessings he's poured down on us?"
Ok, that was a weird moment. I was actually singing BD in my head, and THOSE words got spoken. I think Bono's actual word's at the concert I attended in 2001 - one of three where I could actually hear them - where "What can I give back to God for the Blessing he's poured out on me?" He went on to finish the psalm, saying the first part twice, and then "I lift high the cup of salvation; a toast to God; I sing to be in the presence of God; to follow through on a promise a made to him long ago; to get their together, with his people". That was a chilling prayer as U2 launced into Streets. It was very similar to what was said on other nights, especially the Boston DVD. He didn't read it this time...I suppose that's why it was a little different than the other accounts, or perhaps he didn't need to anymore. Anyway, for whatever reason, I've always remembered that moment.
Back to Church. The psalm finished in very parallel words to Bono's prayer. That got me really paying attention to the service. Not too many minutes later, the Psalm 40 was sung. I've known for years that the song was one of U2's most direct pleas to God. I also knew that Bono was reading or praying during the Elevation tour - it was just weird that to find out it was Psalm 116, and it's a part of the Holy Thursday celebration.
I guess these two things aren't that big of a coincidence, but then a reading was given that started out with "Love will grow despite the infertile lands, and even though men may close their doors to this Love, it will grow stronger still and light up the skies." As the reading went on, I went back to Beautiful Day. I really like that song, and yeah, I know their are some Biblical messages in it - "see the bird with the leaf in her mouth, after the flood all the colors came out" - but this first sentence from the scripture reading has to be the same as the first sentence of Beautiful Day. I missed that one. I went through the whole song, and really started to wonder if was still about a "man who realizes he's lost everything, but he's still happy, and it's a beautiful day". That was a close quote to what Bono once said the song was about. But, was that man Jesus?
I stayed after the service, scouring psalms and readings from scripture for more lyric parallels. There are way more out there than I ever thought, and some are very clever or subtle. Like I said, this was no new discovery...it's common knowledge to lots of U2 diehard fans. It was just, like I said, a weird night. I went back on Friday, and I'm going back to church on Sunday. I know Bono is skeptical of "Religion", and he's got many good reasons. I thought I did, too. Maybe I still do. But there's more faith in some of U2's lyrics than in many of the churches I've been too. There's also a lot of doubt, angst, anger, humility, sorrow, redemption, starting over...that's why I've always been such a U2 fan. Maybe they helped fill a void in my life that I wouldn't fill on my own. After the other night, I'm going to try to fill that void on my own. I don't know if I should thank U2, Bono, or if it's all just a big coincidence. But something changed last Thursday. I'll keep you posted.
If the band ever did read the posts from this website, I hope they read mine. I guess everyone says that or wishes that, but I guess their music is a fine way to hear from U2, too. Happy Easter.
Bono's spirituality has long been an integral part of my following U2. The lyrics and the music of so many songs have kind of kept me interested in God and the big questions, for years. I read the book "Walk On: The Spiritual Journey of U2" with some interest. It was OK, but I actually see a lot more spiritual references in U2 than the author did. Anyway, I'll get to my point.
Like I said, lately, I've been drawn back to something...to my faith, I guess. I decided to go to church on Thursday. I was listening to Bono's "Falling at your feet" on the way over...not unusual for me. I was listening to the service, but not that intently. Then, after the first reading, the pastor starts with the responsorial psalm saying "What can we give back to God for the Blessings he's poured down on us?"
Ok, that was a weird moment. I was actually singing BD in my head, and THOSE words got spoken. I think Bono's actual word's at the concert I attended in 2001 - one of three where I could actually hear them - where "What can I give back to God for the Blessing he's poured out on me?" He went on to finish the psalm, saying the first part twice, and then "I lift high the cup of salvation; a toast to God; I sing to be in the presence of God; to follow through on a promise a made to him long ago; to get their together, with his people". That was a chilling prayer as U2 launced into Streets. It was very similar to what was said on other nights, especially the Boston DVD. He didn't read it this time...I suppose that's why it was a little different than the other accounts, or perhaps he didn't need to anymore. Anyway, for whatever reason, I've always remembered that moment.
Back to Church. The psalm finished in very parallel words to Bono's prayer. That got me really paying attention to the service. Not too many minutes later, the Psalm 40 was sung. I've known for years that the song was one of U2's most direct pleas to God. I also knew that Bono was reading or praying during the Elevation tour - it was just weird that to find out it was Psalm 116, and it's a part of the Holy Thursday celebration.
I guess these two things aren't that big of a coincidence, but then a reading was given that started out with "Love will grow despite the infertile lands, and even though men may close their doors to this Love, it will grow stronger still and light up the skies." As the reading went on, I went back to Beautiful Day. I really like that song, and yeah, I know their are some Biblical messages in it - "see the bird with the leaf in her mouth, after the flood all the colors came out" - but this first sentence from the scripture reading has to be the same as the first sentence of Beautiful Day. I missed that one. I went through the whole song, and really started to wonder if was still about a "man who realizes he's lost everything, but he's still happy, and it's a beautiful day". That was a close quote to what Bono once said the song was about. But, was that man Jesus?
I stayed after the service, scouring psalms and readings from scripture for more lyric parallels. There are way more out there than I ever thought, and some are very clever or subtle. Like I said, this was no new discovery...it's common knowledge to lots of U2 diehard fans. It was just, like I said, a weird night. I went back on Friday, and I'm going back to church on Sunday. I know Bono is skeptical of "Religion", and he's got many good reasons. I thought I did, too. Maybe I still do. But there's more faith in some of U2's lyrics than in many of the churches I've been too. There's also a lot of doubt, angst, anger, humility, sorrow, redemption, starting over...that's why I've always been such a U2 fan. Maybe they helped fill a void in my life that I wouldn't fill on my own. After the other night, I'm going to try to fill that void on my own. I don't know if I should thank U2, Bono, or if it's all just a big coincidence. But something changed last Thursday. I'll keep you posted.
If the band ever did read the posts from this website, I hope they read mine. I guess everyone says that or wishes that, but I guess their music is a fine way to hear from U2, too. Happy Easter.
