Introduction:
This passage is a spiritual reflection on creation, the purpose of human life, and the proper approach to serving God. It speaks to the inherent ability of humans to create beauty, whether through art, music, or language, and suggests that these creative acts should be offered in service to God. It also emphasizes the connection between the physical and spiritual realms, arguing that both are integral to human existence and to the temple of God. The work of creation is portrayed as both a divine and human act that requires struggle but leads to illumination and wholeness.
Summary:
The speaker addresses the “Son of Man” (a reference to a human being) and urges him to listen, observe, and internalize the divine message. The passage begins by critiquing the misconception that worship must be sorrowful and melancholic, highlighting the contrast between such attitudes and the vibrant, engaged lives many lead outside of worship. The speaker then emphasizes the importance of personal penitence and the joy found in true communion with others. The passage moves into an exploration of human creativity, comparing it to an artist shaping stone, suggesting that just as artists create new life from raw material, humans can transform the world with their own creativity. The speaker calls for humans to use their gifts of creation in service to God, integrating both spirit and body in their work. The final part of the passage reflects on the creation of the “Temple,” a metaphor for both the body and the place of worship, where the physical and spiritual worlds meet in unity. The passage concludes with the idea that this work of creation leads to divine light, symbolizing the presence of God in both the material and spiritual realms.
Analysis and Themes:
1. The Dual Nature of Humanity:
- The passage emphasizes the duality of human nature — both spiritual and physical. It suggests that human beings must serve God through both spirit and body, and this integration is crucial in worship and creation. The body is not to be denied but is integral to the process of spiritual service and creation.
2. The Power of Human Creativity:
- One of the central themes is the transformative power of human creativity. Just as artists shape stone into new forms of life, humans have the ability to create beauty and meaning out of raw materials. This creativity is seen as a divine gift, and the passage calls for humans to use their creative abilities in service to God.
3. The Unity of the Visible and Invisible:
- The passage highlights the importance of recognizing the unity between the visible and invisible worlds. The “Temple” is both a physical space and a metaphor for the body, representing the meeting place of the material and spiritual realms. This duality is reflected in creation itself, which blends the visible and invisible aspects of existence.
4. Penitence and Joyful Communion:
- The speaker contrasts the sorrowful, self-pitying view of worship with the idea that true penitence is personal and leads to joy and communion with the saints. After the process of self-reflection and repentance, individuals can experience the “joyful communion of saints,” which implies spiritual growth and collective harmony.
5. Light as Divine Illumination:
- Light, especially in the final lines, symbolizes divine illumination and truth. The passage speaks of the “visible reminder of Invisible Light,” suggesting that through creation, the divine presence is made manifest in the world. The act of creation, whether artistic or spiritual, leads to the light of God’s truth.
6. The Struggle of Creation:
- Creation is portrayed as a difficult and ongoing process that requires effort and struggle. The “Temple” is completed only after “much striving” and overcoming obstacles. This reflects the idea that true creation, both spiritual and material, involves challenges, but the end result is a harmonious union of the human and divine.
Conclusion:
The passage urges humans to recognize the divine in both their physical and spiritual lives. It calls for the integration of creativity, service, and worship, emphasizing that true spiritual life involves the union of body and soul, visible and invisible. The act of creation is not only a human endeavor but also a reflection of divine intention, and it should be directed toward serving God. The “Temple” serves as both a literal and metaphorical space where the human and divine meet, symbolizing the ultimate purpose of human existence — to create, serve, and unite with the divine.
Stanza 1:
“Son of Man, behold with thine eyes, and hear with thine ears
And set thine heart upon all that I show thee.”
- Explanation:
The speaker calls upon the listener (Son of Man) to attentively observe and understand the divine message being presented. This is a command for full engagement — to see, hear, and feel the truth.
Stanza 2:
“Who is this that has said: the House of GOD is a House of Sorrow;
We must walk in black and go sadly, with long drawn faces,
We must go between empty walls, quavering lowly, whispering faintly,
Among a few flickering scattered lights?”
- Explanation:
The speaker questions the notion that a place of worship (the House of God) must be filled with sorrow and sadness. The description of walking “in black” with “long drawn faces” refers to the idea that worship must be somber and mournful. The reference to “flickering scattered lights” suggests a fragmented or diminished experience of spirituality.
Stanza 3:
“They would put upon GOD their own sorrow, the grief they should feel
For their sins and faults as they go about their daily occasions.
Yet they walk in the street proudnecked, like thoroughbreds ready for races,
Adorning themselves, and busy in the market, the forum,
And all other secular meetings.
Thinking good of themselves, ready for any festivity,
Doing themselves very well.”
- Explanation:
The speaker criticizes those who project their personal sorrow onto God, treating their worship as a reflection of their own guilt and faults. Meanwhile, they live their lives outwardly proud and engaged in worldly pleasures, ignoring the gravity of their actions and failing to truly reflect on their spiritual state.
Stanza 4:
“Let us mourn in a private chamber, learning the way of penitence,
And then let US learn the joyful communion of saints.”
- Explanation:
The speaker advocates for a private, personal process of penitence (repentance) rather than public displays of sorrow. After this, they suggest that true spiritual growth comes through the “joyful communion of saints” — fellowship with others who have embraced spiritual growth and grace.
Stanza 5:
“The soul of Man must quicken to creation.
Out of the formless stone, when the artist unites himself with stone,
Spring always new forms of life, from the soul of man that is joined to the soul of stone;
Out of the meaningless practical shapes of all that is living or lifeless
Joined with the artist’s eye, new life, new form, new colour.”
- Explanation:
The speaker emphasizes the creative spirit inherent in humanity. Just as an artist shapes stone into meaningful forms, human beings have the capacity to bring life and beauty into the world. This highlights the creative power within individuals to transform the mundane or lifeless into something new and beautiful.
Stanza 6:
“Out of the sea of sound the life of music,
Out of the slimy mud of words, out of the sleet and hail of verbal imprecisions,
Approximate thoughts and feelings, words that have taken the place of thoughts and feelings,
There spring the perfect order of speech, and the beauty of incantation.”
- Explanation:
The speaker discusses the transformative power of creation in different forms, including music and language. From chaotic and imprecise elements (sound, words), beauty can emerge through discipline, order, and expression. This transformation of raw material into something meaningful is part of the human connection to creation.
Stanza 7:
“LORD, shall we not bring these gifts to Your service?
Shall we not bring to Your service all our powers
For life, for dignity, grace and order,
And intellectual pleasures of the senses?”
- Explanation:
The speaker asks whether humans should offer their creative gifts and talents in service to God. These gifts include not only material works but also the spiritual and intellectual faculties — all that is within a person that contributes to life, dignity, and beauty.
Stanza 8:
“The LORD who created must wish us to create
And employ our creation again in His service
Which is already His service in creating.”
- Explanation:
The speaker suggests that since God is the Creator, He must desire for humans to also create. The act of creation itself, when directed towards the service of God, becomes a continuation of divine service. This implies that human creativity is sacred and that every act of creation reflects God’s original work.
Stanza 9:
“For Man is joined spirit and body,
And therefore must serve as spirit and body.
Visible and invisible, two worlds meet in Man;
Visible and invisible must meet in His Temple;
You must not deny the body.”
- Explanation:
The speaker reflects on the union of spirit and body in human beings. This duality means that both the physical and spiritual aspects of a person must be honored and used in service to God. The Temple, representing both the body and the place of worship, must embrace both the material (visible) and the immaterial (invisible) worlds.
Stanza 10:
“Now you shall see the Temple completed:
After much striving, after many obstacles;
For the work of creation is never without travail;
The formed stone, the visible crucifix,
The dressed altar, the lifting light,
Light
Light
The visible reminder of Invisible Light.”
- Explanation:
The speaker speaks of the completion of the Temple — a metaphor for both the physical space of worship and the spiritual body of a person. The creation of the Temple requires struggle and effort, symbolized by the “formed stone” and “crucifix.” The light represents divine illumination, both physical and spiritual, symbolizing the presence of God (Invisible Light) manifest in the world.
