There’s a lot going on this weekend at our celebrations of the Mass!
First off, we hear in today’s Gospel, Luke’s version of the Beatitudes in what is called the Sermon on the Plain. Matthew’s longer version is often referred to as the Sermon on the Mount as is the one most people often think of when referring to the Beatitudes.
It is also World Marriage Day, so there is a blessing of marriages during Mass. Let’s pray to strengthen all marriages this week in our daily prayers.
The final in-pew appeal for the Archbishop’s Call to Share happens this weekend, too. For those of you who were at mass last Sunday at the 11am mass, the Archbishop presided and spoke of the many miracles that happen in our Archdiocesan community because of this appeal. Please participate in any way that you can – every $5 makes a difference!
Now to what we really here for – the Mass and how our music ties in to it! Our opening song, like most weeks, gathers us together into one community for worship of our God. That’s the entire purpose of an opening, or gathering, song. At the presentation of the gifts and preparation of the altar, we sing “The Summons” by John Bell. This song speaks of allowing God to be in our lives, to answering His call and following in His ways. In the Gospel passages from the last couple of weeks and continuing for the next few weeks, Jesus is starting to explain the basics to those who choose to follow Him. How do we act? What are we supposed to do if we want to follow Him? As John Bell states: “Will you let my [God’s] love be shown, Will you let my name be known?” That’s what we need to do for the basics!
At Communion, we sing “Taste and See” that reminds us of the True Presence in the Eucharist as extolled in Psalm 34: “Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.” Our second Communion song is fairly new: “A Place at Your Table.” It’s written by Ben Walther and published in 2015. It reflects on what happens because we answer God’s call that we’ve been hearing about, just like the disciples: “Happy the ones whom you call here to dine…the promise of life without end. Here in your presence the greatest are least…God, in your goodness, we share a place at your table.”
We conclude mass with “Lead me, Lord” by John Becker which is based on Matthew’s Beatitudes. “Lead me, Lord, by the light of truth to seek and to find the narrow way. Be my way, be my truth; be my lire, my Lord and lead me, Lord, today.” May that we our prayer this week as we encounter the struggles of daily life! May we conquer all our issues with hope and faith in the Lord!