In this special Christmas episode of Created to Reign, Cal Beisner steps away from the usual discussions of environmental stewardship and economic wisdom to explore a different kind of wonder. Drawing on Virgil’s Eclogue IV—a poem early Christians saw as foreshadowing the birth and kingdom of Christ—Cal traces how its imagery of peace, abundance, and restored creation resonates through history and culminates in one of the greatest musical works ever composed: Handel’s Messiah.

From Virgil’s prophetic verses to the scriptural epigrams that inspired Handel’s masterpiece, this episode invites you to “sing of great things” by reflecting on the mystery of the Incarnation and the beauty of the gospel proclaimed through music. Cal walks through the structure of Messiah, highlights its most powerful movements, and shares how generations—from early church fathers to John Newton—have used this oratorio as a tool for worship and evangelism.

Whether you’ve sung Messiah in a choir or never listened to it start-to-finish, this episode offers a heartfelt invitation: experience a performance of Messiah this Christmas, follow the text, and let its sweeping narrative of prophecy, redemption, and triumph draw you into deeper awe of Christ.

Listen in—and may this season fill you with joy, gratitude, and hope in the One whose birth changed the world.

Messiah performance, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JH3T6YwwU9s&t=6s

Messiah libretto (text), https://jubalslyre.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Dicke-Text-Study-of-Handels-Messiah-rev.-230912.pdf

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