34th Week in Ordinary Time 2024 - Wednesday - Song of the Saints in heaven

 

As we come to the end of the liturgical year, the Church places before us the dramatic and awe-inspiring visions of the Book of Revelation. Today, John describes a magnificent yet, sobering scene: angels ready to deliver the final plagues that bring God’s judgment to completion, the sea of glass mingled with fire, and the victorious song of the saints.

This vision connects us to the overarching theme of the Book of Revelation: God’s ultimate victory over sin and evil. The seven plagues remind us of the ten plagues in Egypt, where God delivered His people from slavery. Just as the plagues in Exodus were not random acts of destruction but signs of God’s power and justice, so too are these final judgments in Revelation. They signal the completion of God’s work, echoing Christ’s triumphant cry from the cross: “It is finished.”

The image of the sea of glass mingled with fire is a potent image. In John’s earlier vision of heaven, which we read last week, this sea was crystal clear, symbolizing the calm and majesty of God’s reign. Now it is mingled with fire, foreshadowing the divine judgment about to take place. Yet, it is here, by this sea, that we see those who have been faithful to God standing in victory.

Who are they? They are those who remained steadfast in their faith, even in the face of persecution and temptation, like that described by our Lord in the Gospel today. What are they doing? They are standing and singing. Their song is one of praise for God’s mighty works, recalling the song of Moses and the Israelites after their deliverance through the Red Sea. The saints in heaven celebrate a greater deliverance—not just from earthly oppression but from sin and death itself.

What is particularly striking is the vision of all nations coming to worship God. This is a recurring promise in Scripture. The Psalms and prophets proclaim that all nations will one day acknowledge the Lord. In a sense, this is already fulfilled in the Catholic Church, which is universal by nature, drawing people from every nation to worship God.

As we approach the end of the liturgical year, this vision inspires us to live with hope and readiness, praising God for His mighty works and trusting in His plan for the salvation of the world. May we, too, one day join the saints in the song of the Lamb, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

- - - -  

Let us bring our prayers to the Lord, who is holy and just in all His ways.

For the Church, that she may remain steadfast in proclaiming the Gospel and guiding the faithful to live in readiness for Christ’s return.

For all nations, that they may come to acknowledge the Lord as the source of justice, peace, and salvation.

For those who face persecution and temptation, that they may persevere in faith and find strength in the example of the victorious saints. 

For our community, that we may always praise God for His mighty works and trust in His plan for our lives and the world. 

For those who are sick and suffering, especially those enduring trials of faith, that they may experience the Lord’s presence and be delivered from their struggles.

For the faithful departed, that they may stand among the saints, singing the song of the Lamb in eternal praise.

Almighty and eternal God, You are the ruler of all nations and the source of salvation for Your people. Hear the prayers we offer in faith and bring us to share in the victory of the saints through Christ our Lord.

November 22 2022 - St. Cecilia - The most beautiful song (school mass)

 All throughout the scriptures God’s people are known for making music.  After escaping from the Egyptians and crossing the Red Sea, the Israelites sang a song exulting the Lord for delivering them from their enemies.

Israel sang as she traversed the desert, she sang in the Temple, she sang in exile.

And entire book of the Bible—the book of Psalms—contains songs of joy, songs of adoration of God, songs of repentance for sin, songs of desperation, songs of thanksgiving in acknowledgement of God’s blessings, songs to bestow courage on God’s people as they faced their enemies, songs which contain timeless wisdom to guide one’s life.

There are even Psalms instructing God’s people to pick up your instruments and make some music for God—on lutes and harps, and pipe instruments, even with loud clashing cymbals. 

The Lord Jesus himself in the Gospels is recorded as singing hymns with his disciples on their way to Mount Olivet, after the Last Supper. A recessional hymn following the first Mass.  

St. Paul wrote to the Ephesians, telling them, “be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord…”

In the book of the apocalypse, the saints of heaven are depicted standing around the throne of the Lamb, singing. 

We celebrate today the feast of the patron saint of musicians, St. Cecilia—so a very happy feast day to all musicians—and to the whole Church who constantly sings God’s praises. St. Cecilia was an early Christian martyr, she was arrested, imprisoned, tortured, and sentenced to death because of her Catholic faith. Legend states that throughout her tortures, which lasted for days, she sang to God. 

Think about that. St. Cecilia’s faith was so important to her, that she was able to sing in the face of death. Is your faith strong enough? 

Jesus on the cross recited the lyrics of a song: a song that begins, “my god my god, why have you forsaken me” expressing the sentiments of all those who suffer and feel that God is at a distance…but the song continues: “Dogs surround me; a pack of evildoers closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and my feet”…a thousand years before Jesus was born, this song about a man having his hands and feet pierced for God was written by David..Jesus’s ancestor. And then the song concludes: All who sleep in the earth will bow low before God; All who have gone down into the dust will kneel in homage. And I will live for the LORD;” From the cross, Jesus referenced this song about a man who dies for the Lord, who, even though he dies, will live, will continue to praise God even in death, who will live for God forever. 

That is why St. Cecilia was able to sing when she was facing death. Because of Jesus’ promise, that all those who believe that Jesus is the son of God, those who die with his praises on their lips, will live beyond death. 

The Catholic Church has had on her lips for two thousand years, this very song—the song of Songs—the most beautiful song--the song singing of God’s victory over death through Jesus Christ. Will you sing it? Why wouldn’t you?

The Feast of St. Cecilia—what a wonderful saint to celebrate before taking off a few days for Thanksgiving Break. Cecilia reminds us to join in the Church’s song every day—a song that turns to God with the sentiments of every human heart—thanking God and praising God—for the invitation to sing forever. For the glory of God and salvation of souls.

February 2 2022 - Feast of the Presentation - Canticles of Light

There are three canticles from the infancy narratives of Luke that are prayed every single day by the Church as part of the liturgy of the hours. 

The first canticle in the infancy narratives was sung by Zechariah on the occasion of the birth of his son, John the Baptist. Every morning, in the liturgy of the hours, the Church prays this canticle of Zechariah: “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has come to his people and set them free.”  The language of the Canticle of Zechariah reads like an Old Testament prophecy, speaking of the salvation yet to come…

The second canticle in the infancy narratives was sung by Mary on the occasion of her visitation to Elizabeth.  The Church lovingly prays Mary’s Canticle--her Magnificat—every day during evening prayer.  Our Lady’s Canticle also borrows from the Old Testament canticle of Hannah, who also foreshadows our Lady, singing of being made the mother of a child who would become God’s instrument for salvation—Hannah being the mother of the prophet Samuel, and Our Lady being the Mother of Salvation Himself.

The third canticle in the infancy narratives, we heard at the conclusion of today’s Gospel—the Canticle of the temple priest Simeon, called often, the Nunc dimittis because it begins in the Latin: Nunc dimittis servum tuum Domine, secundum verbum tuum in pace. Now, Master, let your servant go in peace, according to your word.  Simeon’s Canticle is sung in the very last hour of the day in the Church’s Night prayer.  

A fourth canticle from the infancy narratives isn’t prayed every day, but only on feast days. The great song of joy—the gloria in excelsis Deo—the angelic canticle at the birth of the Son of God.

But again, the Canticle of Simeon, sung at the end of the day, every day, is found in the gospel for today’s feast, the Presentation which, in the old calendar concluded the Christmas Season. Simeon, having waited his whole life to glimpse the savior, now can die in peace. And Simeon acknowledges that the Christ child is a light, not just for the Jews for the Gentiles, for the whole world.

The light of Christ is to shine in the Church not just during the Christmas season, but always. His light is to be visible, manifest, and encountered in the choices, attitudes, and behaviors of the members of His Church.  

Today is a good day for reflecting on the many ways the light of Christ shines in your life, like Simeon thanking God for the Christ Child. Thank God today for the truth, the beauty, the goodness you’ve experienced. Thank God for the people, parents, grandparents, teachers, priests and religious, who shared the light of faith with you, and pray for them, especially those who’ve passed into eternity. 

Also, today ask God to help you see ways he might be calling you to share his light with others, with the next generation, with people in whose life the light of God has grown dim, with non-believers.

Zechariah, once blind, saw the light slowly beginning to rise, and sang a canticle of praise. Our Lady, also, witnessed the light break into her life, shared that light with her cousin, and sang. Angles sang of the light of Christ at his saving birth. And Simeon, as his life neared its end, sang of that light, which gave him so much hope for heaven and the salvation of the world.

May our life become a song of praise, a song of light, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

- - - - - -  

On this special day of prayer for the consecrated religious, we pray that those consecrated to God by the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience may live their baptismal promises more intensely and have the grace to persevere in their commitment to the Lord and serve with open hearts and willing spirits. And in gratitude for the consecrated religious who have served this parish and our diocese, for an increase in vocations to the consecrated life. 

During this Catholic Schools week, for all young people, for their teachers and catechists and parents who are the first teachers of the faith, and that the truth of the faith may be learned, cherished, and practiced in every Catholic school and Christian home.

For all the needs of the sick and the suffering, the homebound, those in nursing homes and hospitals, the underemployed and unemployed, immigrants and refugees, victims of natural disaster, war, and terrorism, for all those who grieve the loss of a loved one, and those who will die today, for their comfort, and the consolation of their families.

For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.

Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord

November 22 2021 - St. Cecilia - Sacred Music and the New Song of the Martyrs

All throughout the scriptures God’s people are known for making music.  After escaping from the Egyptians and crossing the Red Sea, the people of Israel sang a song exulting the Lord for delivering them from their enemies. Singing was certainly part of Israel's formal worship in both tabernacle and temple. The Psalms bear rich testimony that in joy and sorrow, in praise and lament, the faithful raise their voices in song to God—making music on lutes and harps, and pipe instruments, even with loud clashing cymbals. There’s certainly a time and place for music like that! 

Our Lord in the Gospels is recorded as singing hymns with his disciples on their way to Mount Olivet, after the Last Supper. A recessional hymn following the first Mass.  

St. Paul wrote to the Ephesians, telling them, “be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord…”

In the book of the apocalypse, the saints of heaven are depicted standing around the throne of the Lamb, singing. 

We celebrate today the feast of the patron saint of musicians, St. Cecilia. Legend states that after St. Cecilia was arrested and imprisoned for her faith, she was tortured for days. But throughout her gruesome tortures she sang to God, she sang God’s praises. 

I think of Cecilia’s beautiful music as she faced her martyrdom in contrast with Psalm 137 which, depicts the Jews being so distraught, so anguished due to their physical separation from the Jerusalem temple, that they hang up their hearts. They are so overwhelmed that they could not bring themselves to song when their Babylonian captors request a song of zion. 

But, St. Cecilia was able to sing in the face of death, and this is certainly a characteristic of the Christian saint. Because of Christian faith and hope, faith in Christ’s victory over death, hope in eternal life with him and the resurrection, we are able to sing even in this valley of tears.  

St. Augustine describing the Christian life once said, “We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song.”  The Christian witnessing to the victory of Christ over sin and death is to be a song which resounds to all corners of the world.  Whether in good times or in bad, in times of suffering, or in times of joy the Christian life is to be a hymn to God. For Christ’s victory over death, enables us to sing alleluia—God is victorious—even in the face of our own martyrdom. 

Several of the Psalms proclaim: “sing a new song unto the Lord”, well, the Christian is able to sing that new song, even in the face of gruesome martyrdom because we know that death does not get the last word, death does not silence the witness of the Church, for it did not silence Him.

The Vatican II Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy Sacrosanctum Concilium explains that there are two purposes for sacred music: "the glory of God and the sanctification of the faithful."

Beautiful Sacred Music, reflects the beauty and holiness of God, engaging our human emotions, imaginations, and wills. We make beautiful music because God is beautiful, and we sing songs of lamentation to more deeply express our guilt or our suffering.

And yet, sacred music is also a sacramental like sacred art and architecture, the miraculous medal, or holy water. Music expresses our faith but also opens us up, disposes us, like the other sacramentals, to the grace of God, by pointing us to the transcendent. Sacred music has been successful in stirring the hearts of hardened atheists to recognize that there is something beyond the material, beyond the self.

The Church is blessed by her sacred musicians who help us to worship God in spirit, truth, goodness, and beauty. Through the intercession of St. Cecilia, may the entire Church, through all her trials and joys, sing to God the new song of adoration for the glory of God and salvation of souls.