Be my light in the storm

I thoroughly enjoyed mass today - for a rather bimbotic reason though... heh :) there was a wonderful choir singing beautiful hymns! The congregation was led through "Be not afraid", "Christ, Be our Light", and "St Francis's Prayer (aka make me a channel of your peace).

The choir was comprised 4-5 members, doubling up as occasional musicians on the piano, guitar and violin. In summary, they were a small group of people who weren't always in tune but were so joyful, sincere and serious in their representation of music, that it infected the whole church.

Music resonates physically and emotionally within us. It is the language of our souls. Hence, music and singing at mass is indispensable.

Beautiful (sincere) singing and music is form of communication with God, an invisible bridge to union with pews of strangers in choral gusto and most of all, a tuneful resolution to ourselves to keep and walk the faith.

Hymns are can function as a sort of 'mnemonic' to our faith. Lyrics to hymns 'come' to us when we are searching, conciously or unconciously. Even when we forget the words, we remember the tune, and attach meaning to it. I am certain there have been times when have you may have found yourself humming a familiar tune, or connecting to lyrics of a song. Similarly, the tunes of hymns can trigger a memory of a necessary struggle or suffering, or comfort, or rejuvenate. For me, I am always joyful or moved while singing. Hymns fundmentally, remind us to rejoice in Hope even while suffering. Music moves us to hope and celebrate in God's promise of Love.

Every mass is celebration of the eucharist; a time of renewal of our faith and reflection of our thoughts and acts. A great choir and a sharp selection of hymns can greatly faciliate all the abovementioned. Specifically, an arousing choir can provide a musical context to the message of the readings and homily, and reinforce a connection to the Word. Sadly, I don't get that feeling when I attend mass in sg. Sometimes, it seems that choral members merely want to outdo each other in volume or showcase their voices. I don't think that they realise they come together to lead the congregation, to inspire worship instead being a devotee to one's own vocal prowess. I will dearly miss the masses in Brisbane, for the simple, compact, but proficient, rousing choirs.

Now for slightly less bimbotic stuff... Today's reading exhorted us not to forget to trust in Christ despite the storm. In our disorientation, we give in to fear and easily forget to trust. For some wierd reason, I was transported to a scene in LOTR - Return of the King, where Frodo gave in to fear insidiously incited by Golem, and distrusted Samwise Gamgee (the scene leading to the appearance of the horrible spider). Perhaps I am reminded of the scene because I was surprised to realise that even someone hopeful, innocent and loyal like Frodo; the best of us, fall prey to fears. It is so much easier to seek confirming evidence to distrust, than to consider evidence suggesting otherwise. However, it is interesting that when Frodo found himself lost and trapped in the cave where the spider dwells, he wishes Sam was there to support him in his hour of darkness. Perhaps intuitively, we know who we can trust - always.

This brings me to point I am blogging today, I am captured chorus of "Christ be our light" and really just wanted to post the lyrics, and not bable. Anyhow, if you are unfamiliar with this hymn, the tune to the chorus is cast with a minor scaling of sombre grave tones, but slowly it gives way to a rising melody and harmony in the chorus. I am sure you can draw the parrallels to todays reading. Enjoy.

Christ be our light
Longing for light, we wait in darkness.
Longing for truth, we turn to you.
Make us your own, your holy people,
Light of the world to see.

Chorus:
Christ, be our light!
Sing in our hearts.
Shine through the darkness.
Christ, be our light!
Shine in your Church gathered today.

Longing for peace, our world is troubled.
Longing for hope, many despair.
Your word alone has pow'r to save us.
Make us your living voice.
(C)

Longing for food, many are hungry,
Longing for water, many still thirst.
Make us your bread, broken for others,
shared until all are fed. (C)

Fidelity

Co-habitation screws your mind.

For those of you who know, I moved out of the of the place I was renting because the couple I was living with was incesssantly playing war games. The air, thick with tension; reeked of hurt, betrayal and guilt. One minute I can hear them quarrelling and crying, the next, they are making out in the shower (the shower is a mere wall partition away from my humble mattress).

I finally threw in the towel. Enough. I need to make sense of my environment and I need Sleep!

Shortly after I moved out, the guy followed suit, but subsequently returned. A few weeks later, I met up the girl for a little coffee. This is the truncated version of the conversation that ensued...
me: Hey, he told me that he moved back in and you are both back together.
me: That means you are still getting married right? Congratulations!
girl: (looks blank) .. yeah...
me: er..Are you sure you want to marry him?
girl: Yes I want to marry him now,...
me: now?
girl: but I can't promise that I want to be married to him 20-30 years time.
me: huh? To be married is to be committed to him for life. Do you want to commit to that?
girl: yes, I do. Now. But maybe not in twenty years. That I cannot promise… I cannot promise that I will stay faithful.
me: what do you mean you cannot promise? A promise means that you hold to a commitment… that you will try no matter what happens; that you will not commit adultery;… it is a commitment to make the right choice everytime you are faced with temptation.
girl: I can see myself with him now. But I can’t see myself with him maybe in 20 years? I may be attracted to someone else, I cannot control that. I fear I won't be living the life that God promised.

I was whacked with a massive overdose of incredulity... in other words, in Singaporean speak, "WAH RAU!" exploded in my head, deafening my senses and rendering me speechless. I could not believe my ears...

God did not promise a road paved with roses, and certainly I think He would root for the santity of the lived Holy Matrimony. What about God's faithfulness to us despite out many transgressions?

In most cases, co-habitation is an arrangement of convenience and instant gratification, not of love that will be riddled with obstacles. The 'test drive' mentality of co-habitation promotes extreme self-interest and removes the impetus to have the courage to sacrifice or perservere for the sake of the symbiotic relationship.

I am uncertain why the girl was fearful. Perhaps she may have had unpleasant experiences of non-commital persons who are significant in her life. I want to tell her there is nothing to be fearful about - at all times of temptation, you are faced with a dichotomous choice, ie whether or not to honour the commitment. Fidelity. It is as simple and as difficult as that.

The Church; The Kingdom ?

The Church / The Kingdom
(Don Siebert)

In synoptic Gospels, the word ‘kingdom’ is used 106 times, the word ‘church’ once. Thus it is the kingdom for which we strive. The church is a means to promote the kingdom – not an end in itself.

The kingdom is a mystery outlined in the parables and beatitudes; not a list of laws, but a set of mind boggling ideals with which we struggle in life to come to terms.

It is the reign of God in our lives; a gathering awareness, a process, a growth rather than some abstraction; it is the presence of God deep within us and all other people and our world. It is the source within us of our dialogue with God; it is a call to wholeness, to selfless love and service of other people.

The kingdom brings Hope not fear; prophetic word and action, not paralysis. Sharing, not self-sufficiency; forgiveness, not revenge.

Be Still

Be Still

He commanded

I heard

But did not know

how to obey

A gentle voice echoed

Be still...

I listened

to the quieting

of my soul

Be still;

and Know.

I saw my nothingness;

fears, anxieties

ebb away

Know,

That I am God.

My spirit, my body,

rests

in His Grace and Glory

Open my eyes Lord

OPEN MY EYES
(Jesse Manibusan)

Open my eyes, Lord. Help me to see your face.
Open my eyes, Lord. Help me to see.

Open my ears, Lord. Help me to hear your voice.
Open my ears, Lord. Help me to hear.

Open my heart, Lord. Help me to love like you.
Open my heart, Lord. Help me to love.

I live within you. Deep in your heart, O Love.
I live within you. Rest now in me.