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Views from the Choir Loft

Who Likes to be “Pruned”?

Richard J. Clark · October 25, 2013

OHN 15 CONTAINS SOME OF THE MOST well known lines of scripture, especially the first verse, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.” Yet, there are a few lines that I find intriguing—ones that are often overlooked—lines that are calling us to serve God.

John 15: 2: He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.

So it seems we are pruned in order to bear more fruit. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like being pruned. I don’t like improperly imposed limitations, dealing with challenging personalities or situations—all the while knowing that I perhaps inflict difficult challenges on others. As musicians of liturgical music, challenges to the integrity of the sacred liturgy and sacred music are never in short supply.

But pruned we are again and again. Somehow, we must refine our people skills and find creative ways to catechize. Somewhere in all of these challenges we often refine our musical skills just when we thought our music was threatened. Ultimately, this pruning leads to a refinement of the soul.

So another verse I find most intriguing is John 15: 16: “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain…”

That God chooses us to serve leads to a bigger picture. What is our path in life? What does God want us to do in order to serve Him? God indeed, while often painfully slow in his response to our prayer (and for good reason), knows what is best for us and always answers our pleadings. This leads to Psalm 16 (15):11:

“You will show me the path of life, the fullness of joy in your presence, O Lord.”

There are times in life when our path is uncertain or does not make sense in the eyes of humankind. But in verse nine, the psalmist gives us hope:

“And so, my heart rejoices, my soul is glad; even my flesh shall rest in hope.”

Free Download | Psalm 16 (15):
Communion Antiphon for the Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time (Nov. 3rd):
PDF • Notas mihi fecisti | Communion Antiphon | 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

Opinions by blog authors do not necessarily represent the views of Corpus Christi Watershed.

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

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About Richard J. Clark

Richard J. Clark is the Director of Music of the Archdiocese of Boston and the Cathedral of the Holy Cross.—(Read full biography).

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Quick Thoughts

    PDF • “For General Use Until Advent”
    If you conduct a volunteer choir, you might consider using this Simple Piece #40273 (“Adésto Sáncta Trínitas”) which can be used during the rest of the liturgical season until Advent. It's based on the well known hymn tune: OLD HUNDREDTH. Rehearsal videos are available at #40691. A live recording of #40273 (“Adésto Sáncta Trínitas”) by a volunteer choir is here (#40065).
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Introit • (This Coming Sunday)
    Our volunteer choir appreciates training videos, so here's my attempt at recording “Exáudi Dómine Vocem Meam,” which is the INTROIT for this coming Sunday. This coming Sunday is Dominica Post Ascensionem (“Sunday after the feast of the Ascension”). It is sung according to the official rhythm of the Catholic Church.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Volunteer Choir Attempts “Kýrie Eléison”
    My volunteer choir attempted the polyphonic KYRIE that will be sung at this year's Sacred Music Symposium. If you're interested, you can listen to the live recording from last Sunday. The piece is based on the ancient plainchant hymn melody: Ave Maris Stella. Polyphony like this is truly intricate and wonderful. It reminds me of the quote by Artur Schnabel: “music that's greater than it can be performed.”
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“Partly on account of these alterations, and partly because I have been unable to ascertain the authorship of many compositions—which have come to me either in manuscript or through other collections—I have thought it right to publish the volume without appending the names of writers to their works. This, however, I confess to be a defect…”

— Benjamin Hall Kennedy (1863)

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