A Handle on Handel’s Messiah
In Boulder, Colorado, our community at St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church is preparing for a rare and joyful offering: a performance of Handel’s Messiah in Spanish on the Fourth Sunday of Easter, April 26. This limited series podcast accompanies that journey.
In each episode of this limited series, we will explore the Scripture that shaped Messiah, the musical interpretations that illuminate them, and the theological reflections they inspire. And then, as always, we will turn to prayer.
Whether you are singing with us, studying alongside us, listening from afar, or simply drawn to the beauty and comfort of this music, my hope is that this series enriches the way you hear and pray with Messiah.
The first half of this podcast series is now available! Catch up and subscribe before February 22, when I will return for five more episodes in Lent.
Listen on:
Episodes
Sunday Dec 14, 2025
Sunday Dec 14, 2025
We turn to the nativity story in Messiah, tracing how Handel moves from royal expectation to the quiet revelation of God’s glory among shepherds under a night sky. Through Scripture, music, and reflection, we explore how Divine peace breaks into the world with tenderness and strength as Part I of this podcast journey comes to a close.
If you subscribe or follow this podcast, the next episode will appear for you automatically when it is released at the beginning of Lent.
(0:00) Introduction
(4:16) Shepherds Living in the Fields
(10:32) The Good Shepherd
(14:05) God's Peace
(16:42) Conclusion
Sunday Dec 07, 2025
Sunday Dec 07, 2025
In this episode, we return to the prophetic world of Isaiah and King Ahaz, where a promise first spoken in fear begins its long and surprising journey toward joy. Through scripture, history, and Handel’s luminous choruses, we explore how God’s promise unfolds slowly across generations, widening into the hope we celebrate in Advent.
(0:00) Opening
(4:46) Isaiah, Ahaz, and the Unfolding Promise (Scripture + Music + Commentary)
(18:10) Theological and Liturgical Reflection
(20:45) Invitation to Reflection
(21:51) Closing
Sunday Nov 30, 2025
Sunday Nov 30, 2025
This episode explores Haggai and Malachi’s call to honest spiritual preparation, inviting us to recognize the ways God rebuilds, strengthens, and refines the life of faith. Through scripture and Handel’s musical interpretation, we discover an Advent shaped by courage, clarity, and renewed hope.
00:00 Introduction
04:19 Haggai 1:1–11 — Reordering Life Around God
08:34 Haggai 2:1–9 — Courage When the Work Looks Small
12:22 Malachi 3:1–4 — The Refining Presence of God
15:26 Handel’s Music — Hearing Scripture Through Sound
20:40 Theological Reflection
22:33 Invitation
Monday Nov 24, 2025
Monday Nov 24, 2025
This episode delves into Isaiah 40 and how Handel's composition brings Isaiah's comforting words to life, creating a space for reflection and spiritual preparation.
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Performance
02:55 Isaiah 40:1-11
05:19 Historical Context of Isaiah's Message
08:48 Handel's Musical Interpretation
13:56 Reflections and Application
16:40 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview
Monday Nov 17, 2025
Monday Nov 17, 2025
This introductory episode outlines the purpose and structure of the limited series, "A Handle on Handel’s Messiah." Listeners receive an overview of how the podcast will explore the biblical texts behind Handel’s oratorio, how the music interprets those texts, and how this study prepares St. Aidan’s for its upcoming Spanish-language performance of Messiah.
00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Performance
03:11 - Setting the Vision: Why Messiah?
05:48 The Scriptures Behind Messiah
08:06 Handel's Music: Listening as Prayer
10:01 Theology & Liturgy: Why Messiah Endures
12:20 A Moment for Reflection and Prayer
15:10 Conclusion and Next Episode Preview