Review: The Song of the Lamb

 

 

I’ve always liked the wisdom of Robert Cardinal Sarah, and how his words open my soul to new insights.  In this book, his words sometimes made me sad, as he speaks of God’s awesomeness and beauty, and His gift of the Liturgy to man.  Sacred music played then, should immerse us --- however imperfectly --- into the atmosphere of heaven.  Yet, how often does music at mass seem to us like a mere concert, or as Cardinal Sarah writes, “like kitsch”.

This book tells how the Liturgy is “the summit of our Christian life, drawing us into the mystical presence of God Himself.”  But, as the Cardinal explains, the popular music styles such as folk, pop, jazz and rock often heard at mass serve more as a participation in the culture, and the idea of communal worship.

I think the overall feeling I came away with from this book is the need to return to more reverent music, such as Gregorian Chant, and worship expressed by silence and listening for God’s grace.  While the cardinal is from Africa, he did not speak highly of where local cultural music and dance there have been incorporated into many locations.  There is a place and time for local worship gatherings, but not at the mass, which is the summit of Christian life, the mystical presence of God Himself.  At the mass, we celebrate Christ giving of Himself to us at the Last Supper.  And we celebrate His giving of Himself for us as on the crucifix.  An awesome God, Creator of the universe, is with us.

Cardinal Sarah reminds us that the beauty of the church building and the reverence of our music makes our worship about Him, not us.

 

 

Barron Beatitude

 

I’ve just started Bishop Barron’s book Catholicism (2^nd ed).  His explanation on the Beatitudes on pages 36-45 was a great presentation which was, for me, a new way of seeing them.  I started trying to summarize his words but found myself only quoting most all of them.  So, I’ll just note a few key points.

Bishop Barron calls the first four Beatitudes as being the “more positive” ones.  In short, they note that God is love, and we should try to imitate Him.  In writing of the last four Beatitudes, the good Bishop starts by quoting Thomas Aquinas, who “said the four typical substitutes for God are wealth, pleasure, power, and honor.  The last four then are statements about people who are able to overcome those “self” urges. 

Blessed in the poor in spirit describes those able to overcome the desire for wealth by a detachment to material things, not seeking to buy happiness here, now, on earth.  Blessed are those who mourn is a reference to those who can overcome good feelings or sensations, or other forms of real or imagined pleasures.  Blessed are the meek refers to those not focused on political or other powers (including pride and sexual powers), but rather live with a feeling of detachment.  And the last of the “negative” beatitudes is: Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake.  This one, as Barron gives a detailed explanation, refers to those not have a fixation on approval of others (being noticed, honored, endowed with titles).   

The Beatitudes, early in the Gospel of Matthew, are Jesus telling the people how they should be living good lives, seeking to become more like God and focused on eternal life, and not focused on ourselves and this earthly life.  It is a good way of looking at that lesson.  Early on in his public teaching, Jesus is saying to be focused on our eternal life, not the short time we live on earth.  He notes that in many ways this is against what may seem to be our nature.  But he calls those natural urges concupiscence or addiction, and with our free will we can defeat those urges, and create new “natural urges” to do good.

In Heaven Our Joy Shall Be

In heaven our joy shall be,
To sing eternally:
”May Jesus Christ be Praised”

 

Those words came to mind as I drove home from early morning mass, and looked into the beautiful morning sunrise.  I had greeted a few friends after mass and mentioned how today was my food delivery day.  Driving homewards now, I suddenly remembered how one wintery day I was worried about my safety in getting that food delivery up the walkway to the trailer door where I deliver.  But that day, to my surprise, the walkway was recently shoveled.  And even more surprised when the mentally challenged young man who lived there was standing there in the cold, waiting to shout out to me as I exited my car: “Look Tom, I shoveled the snow.  I even put down salt.”  And he had the biggest smile.  He was so proud of the work he had done.

And as I looked at the beautiful sunrise today, I recalled that young man’s smile, and the joy I felt at that moment; both were indescribable.  He had done something I totally did not expect, nor think even possible --- for me.  And he was so happy to show me how much he cared, for me and all I did for him. 

I’ve written here recently about the depths of contemplative prayer.  Last night, I attended a class where I listened to a theologian speak about the words of P. Marie-Eugene and his book titled: I Want To See God.  In the chapters about contemplative prayer and the mystical life, the speaker, like the author, found it hard to put into words what it is like then, when we let God lead our prayer.  At the class end’s Q&A I submitted a question: Is “Do you love Me (with agape love),” as Jesus said to Peter the key?  The speaker paused (probably unable to find words) but responded yes.

In heaven our joy shall be, to sing eternally, “May Jesus Christ be Praised.”  But in our joy then, we probably won’t use words.  A beautiful sunrise over all creation can’t be described in words, nor can heaven, nor contemplative prayer.  God is leading all three, with a love beyond description.  But we know the joy.