A Banner Day!

The famous German play, “Faust,” was inspired by a sixteenth-century magician who claimed to be in league with the devil. In one version of the legend, Faust sells his soul to Satan. The reason he sells his soul is not for wealth, nor power, nor immortality. Rather, it is because he is overcome by his inability to discover the meaning of life. Consequently, he bargains with Satan to reveal it to him in exchange for his very soul. In the play, there is a very moving scene in which Faust is in a state of final despair. He is so frustrated and discouraged about his problem with life that he decides to commit suicide. He is about to drink from a beaker of poison when suddenly he hears a tremendous choir singing beautiful Easter music. And it gets through to him. He drops the poison and begins to weep. As the author says so beautifully, “His tears gush forth and earth takes back her child.”