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Views from the Choir Loft

Homily: 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Guest Author · August 2, 2014

HERE IS A DEFINITE connection between the first (Old Testament) reading and the Gospel reading for today. Admittedly it will take some explanation to be able to see it. In the first reading the writer of this part of the Book of Isaiah is telling the Jewish people who are still in captivity in Babylon that when they return home to their promised land, it will be a land of prosperity. This is indicated by the expression “a land flowing with milk and honey”. And I am sure that when they finally did return they were most happy to be able to do so. Now they were determined to live according to God’s laws. God was taking care of their material needs just as Jesus did for those people who had followed him out into the deserted area.

There is a special term that we use to describe God taking care of our needs and that is God’s Providence or sometimes referred to as Divine Providence. And while it might be a bit difficult to describe, we are all living proof that it has been at work in our lives for all of our lives. We are living proof of that. Ordinarily it happens in an ordinary manner. Sometimes it happens in an extraordinary manner. Some of us may even be aware of God having taken care of us on some occasion in an extraordinary manner. While I do not necessarily like the melody or the lyrics of the song, I do have to agree with the erstwhile popular song of the seventies, He’s got the whole world in his hands. Yes, God is taking care of things, and it is important for me, and for you to remember that. The world is not going to fall apart if you or I go out of existence. This is especially an area where it is especially important for us to put our faith into action, to practice what we believe.

We can say that it is our faith in God that makes it possible for us to believe that God has concern and care for us, that God is a provident God. This in turn should make us want to love God. After all, as St. Paul says somewhere, what do you have that you have not received? The only correct and honest answer is “nothing.” For it all has ultimately come from God. This ties in well with what St. Paul says in the second reading. There he says that nothing can keep him from loving Christ. Now this can be something that is easy to say. And it may be relatively easy to do as long as the doing doesn’t get too difficult. St. Paul had many opportunities to prove his love for Christ during very difficult circumstances. And he succeeded by remaining faithful. Our main opportunities are possibly not too difficult except for the day in and day out routine-ness of our service. And that can be a great thing. Being faithful in our love and service of Christ over the years is a great thing. And there are many saints who became saints just by doing that. Think of the Little Flower, St. Bernadette, St. Kateri, and St. Aloysius. They were not known for any great accomplishments. They just did their ordinary everyday things extraordinarily well. That is within the grasp of each of us. That is the way we have of proving that we love God.

If we can live convinced that God is taking care of us, and He really is, we should feel as secure as a baby in its mother’s arms. Then all we have to do are those things that God puts in front of us to do. And when it is all over, we will have heaven awaiting us. What a wonderful way to live! What a wonderful way to die!


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

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Quick Thoughts

Alabama Assessment!

We received this evaluation of Symposium 2022 from an Alabama participant:

“Oh, how the Symposium echoed the words of Cardinal Merry Del Val: …choosing only what is most conformed to Thy glory, which is my final aim. In one short and fast paced week, the faculty and attendees showed me the hand of God and our Lady working in our lives. The wide range of education—from Gregorian Chant, jazz modes in organ improvisation, to ‘staying sane’ while leading a choir—were certainly first-class knowledge from the best teachers of the art. However, the most powerful lesson was learning how to pray as a choir. The sacrifice of putting songs together, taking time to learn the sacred text, meditating on the church teaching through the chants, and gaining the virtues required to persevere in these duties were not only qualities of a choir but of a saint. The sanctification of the lives of the attendees was a beautiful outcome of this event … and that in itself is worth more than a beautifully-sung Solesmes style chant!”

—Jeff Ostrowski
PDF Download • Trinity Sunday (22 pages)

Feel free to download this Organ Accompaniment Booklet for Trinity Sunday (Second Vespers). Notice how the modes progress by number. Psalm 1 is mode 1; Psalm 2 is mode 2; Psalm 3 is mode 3; Psalm 4 is mode 4; Psalm 5 is mode 5. I am told by an expert that other feasts (such as Corpus Christi) are likewise organized by mode, and it’s called a “numerical office.”

—Jeff Ostrowski
10 June 2022 • “Official” rhythm of plainsong

I continue to search for the most beautiful way to present the “pure” Editio Vaticana scores. (Technically, the “pure” rhythm of the official edition is what everyone is supposed to use.) You can download my latest attempt, which is the Introit for this coming Sunday: Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. Because this is not an ancient feast, the Introit had to be adapted (perhaps around 750AD). Prior Johner says the adaptation is “not an entirely happy one.”

—Jeff Ostrowski

Random Quote

“A penalty is decreed against clerics, who, being in sacred Orders, or holding benefices, do not wear a dress befitting their Order. […] In these days, the contempt of religion has grown to such a pitch that—making but little account of their own dignity, and of the clerical honor—some even wear in public the dress of laymen…”

— ‘Council of Trent (Session 14, Chapter 6)’

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