Read part one here.
In 1733 Augustus II, the Elector of Saxony, died. A period of mourning followed which forbid all forms of music making. Johann Sebastian Bach used this time to compose the first parts of what would become the Mass in B Minor, a complete setting for the Latin Catholic Mass. But Bach was a Lutheran and the tension between Catholics and Protestants was still such that the Mass would never be played at his own church or at any Catholic church of the time. It would be more than a hundred years after his death before the composition would be played in its entirety. Today it is regarded as one of his finest.
It is natural for us to desire honor and recognition for our accomplishments, but it is important for us to realize that the true audience and judge of our work is divine rather than human.
Artists such as Johann Sebastian Bach focused on being true to their calling. They worked to develop their God-given talents without regard to public reception or critical acclaim. They focused instead on seeking the Kingdom first.
Humility is seldom thought of as an artistic virtue. But the idea of art for art’s sake is only about 100 years old, and the notion of the “celebrity artist” did not come about until the Renaissance. For most of human history art has served God by serving His people in a way that calls them back to Him. Artists who give themselves and their talents completely over to God have produced works of timeless beauty that still call to us today.