• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

“A much greater source of anxiety to Us is the style of action of those who maintain that liturgical worship should shed its sacred character, who foolishly say we should substitute for sacred items & furnishings ordinary common things in daily use.” —Pope Saint Paul VI (14 Oct 1968)

  • Donate
  • Our Team
    • Our Editorial Policy
    • Who We Are
    • How To Contact Us
    • Sainte Marie Bulletin Articles
  • Pew Resources
    • Brébeuf Catholic Hymnal
    • Jogues Illuminated Missal
    • KYRIALE • Saint Antoine Daniel
    • Campion Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Repository • “Spanish Music”
    • Ordinary Form Feasts (Sainte-Marie)
  • MUSICAL WEBSITES
    • René Goupil Gregorian Chant
    • Noël Chabanel Psalms
    • Nova Organi Harmonia (2,279 pages)
    • Roman Missal, 3rd Edition
    • Catechism of Gregorian Rhythm
    • Father Enemond Massé Manuscripts
    • Lalemant Polyphonic
  • Miscellaneous
    • Site Map
    • Secrets of the Conscientious Choirmaster
    • “Wedding March” for lazy organists
    • Emporium Kevin Allen
    • Saint Jean de Lalande Library
    • Sacred Music Symposium 2023
    • The Eight Gregorian Modes
    • Gradual by Pothier’s Protégé
    • Seven (7) Considerations
Views from the Choir Loft

Homily: 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Guest Author · July 13, 2014

ODAY’S GOSEPL PARABLE is one of the few parables that Jesus actually explained. But it seems He only explained it to his disciples or closer followers later on. And then He gives a rather mysterious reason why He is explaining it to them and not to the general public. Different commentators have different explanations and opinions about this. I prefer just to dwell on the topic of hearing the word of God.

If one attends Mass regularly, one certainly hears an abundance of the Word of God. Every Sunday there are three different Readings, one from the Old Testament which is in some way or other tied in with the reading from one of the Gospels. Then there is a selection from one of the Epistles or other New Testament Readings. A so-called Responsorial Psalm, also taken from the Bible always follows the First Old Testament Reading. Also the intervening chants are usually based on some text from the Scriptures. So you are certainly given much opportunity to hear the Word of God.

The Church has always given special preference to the Word of God. First of all because we believe that its writers were inspired by God to write what they did. And at least at Mass, the Church has refrained from introducing and using other writers. Other writers might be able to write better and be more appealing. But they can’t make the claim of being inspired by God. There are plenty of other opportunities when they can be read and enjoyed with profit, but not at Mass. Admittedly that is a side issue that just seemed to creep in.

BACK TO HEARING THE WORD OF GOD: We have plenty of opportunities to hear, but do we take advantage of them? Jesus gives us a rather detailed description of how the results generally turn out. Perhaps if we were in a retreat setting I could read the last section, and pause after each group and ask everyone to stop and ask themselves, “Do I belong in this group who hear, but don’t understand?” Or “Did I once receive the word with joy, but I took no root, and so it lasted only for a short time?” Or “Did I hear the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choked the word and it bore no fruit?” And lest I be accused of being completely negative, I’ll ask: “Did I hear the word and understand it and bear fruit a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold?” Maybe we can answer “sometimes, but not all the time.”

A practical suggestion: As I indicated at the beginning, there is no doubt that Catholics are hearing a lot more of the Bible now than they used to. In some respects we have to say that this is good. It is hard to say what kind of results it is producing. The Bible and what it contains should be a very practical book for us, i.e. it should lead to active practice in our lives. If we would concentrate on one piece of advice learned each week and practice it, our general behavior and manner of living would soon change. I suggest that you pick out something each week to ‘hear’ and let fall on good soil so that it can produce good results.

For a specific passage, I suggest that you look at this week’s selection from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans where he says: “The sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed in us.” First of all, make sure that you know the meaning. St. Paul is saying that any suffering or hardship that we have to endure here on this earth is going to seem as nothing when we finally reach the glory of heaven which Jesus has prepared for us who have tried to serve Him while we were on this earth.


We hope you enjoyed this homily by Fr. Valentine Young, OFM.

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

Filed Under: Articles Last Updated: January 1, 2020

Subscribe

It greatly helps us if you subscribe to our mailing list!

* indicates required

Primary Sidebar

Corpus Christi Watershed

President’s Corner

    15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
    This coming Sunday—13 July 2025—is the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C). All the chants have been conveniently assembled and posted at the feasts website. The OFFERTORY, Ad Te Levávi, is particularly beautiful.
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Music Director Job • $80,000 per year
    Our readers will be interested in this job offering for Music Director at Saint Adalbert’s Basilica, located 40 minutes from where I live. My pastor was recently elevated to this basilica. He is offering $80,000 per year, plus benefits. I’m told Saint Adalbert’s Basilica is utterly gorgeous and contains one of America’s most magnificent pipe organs. It would be fantastic to have a colleague nearby!
    —Jeff Ostrowski
    Simplest “Agnus Dei” Ever Published
    Our choir is on break during the month of July. I needed a relatively simple “Agnus Dei,” so I composed this setting for organ & voice in honor of Saint René Goupil. It has been called the simplest setting ever composed. I love CARMEN GREGORIANUM (“Gregorian Chant”), especially the ALLELUIAS, INTROITS, and COMMUNION ANTIPHONS. That being said, some have pointed out that certain sections of the Kyriale aren’t as strong as the Graduale or Vesperale. There’s a reason for this—but it would be too complicated to explain at this moment.
    —Jeff Ostrowski

Quick Thoughts

    Pope Pius XII Hymnal?
    Have you ever heard of the Pope Pius XII Hymnal? It’s a real book, published in the United States in 1959. Here’s a sample page so you can verify with your own eyes it existed.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    “Hybrid” Chant Notation?
    Over the years, many have tried to ‘simplify’ plainsong notation. The O’Fallon Propers attempted to simplify the notation—but ended up making matters worse. Dr. Karl Weinmann tried to do the same in the time of Pope Saint Pius X by replacing each porrectus. You can examine a specimen from his edition and see whether you agree he complicated matters. In particular, look at what he did with éxsules fílii Hévae.
    —Corpus Christi Watershed
    Antiphons Don’t Match?
    A reader wants to know why the Entrance and Communion antiphons in certain publications deviate from what’s prescribed by the GRADUALE ROMANUM published after Vatican II. Click here to read our answer. The short answer is: the Adalbert Propers were never intended to be sung. They were intended for private Masses only (or Masses without music). The “Graduale Parvum,” published by the John Henry Newman Institute of Liturgical Music in 2023, mostly uses the Adalbert Propers—but sometimes uses the GRADUALE text: e.g. Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul (29 June).
    —Corpus Christi Watershed

Random Quote

“So, as in delirium a man talks in a long-forgotten tongue, now—when her heart is rent—the Catholic Church drops twenty centuries without an effort, and speaks as she spoke underground in Rome, and in Paul’s hired house, and in Crete and Alexandria and Jerusalem.”

— A non-Catholic describing the “Hagios O Theos” of Good Friday in 1906

Recent Posts

  • “How to Conduct 90 Vespers Services Each Year and Live to Tell the Tale.”
  • 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
  • The Tallis Scholars
  • Music Director Job • $80,000 per year
  • Pope Saint Paul VI to Consilium (14 October 1968)

Subscribe

Subscribe

* indicates required

Copyright © 2025 Corpus Christi Watershed · Isaac Jogues on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Corpus Christi Watershed is a 501(c)3 public charity dedicated to exploring and embodying as our calling the relationship of religion, culture, and the arts. This non-profit organization employs the creative media in service of theology, the Church, and Christian culture for the enrichment and enjoyment of the public.

The election of Pope Leo XIV has been exciting, and we’re filled with hope for our apostolate’s future!

But we’re under pressure to transfer our website to a “subscription model.”

We don’t want to do that. We believe our website should remain free to all.

Our president has written the following letter:

President’s Message (dated 30 May 2025)

Are you able to support us?

clock.png

Time's up