18 September 2019 - house music

Today's Readings

(Audio)

Why are we in the world so often unsatisfied with the heavenly music which is meant to give order and meaning to our lives?

'We played the flute for you, but you did not dance.
We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.'

Why can't we believe Jesus when he tells us what things that deserve our tears? We put lesser things first and so why have trouble finding sincerity in contrition and repentance. What's more, we don't want to rejoice in the things of heaven because we're so insistent that our joy come from the things of earth, that moth and rust destroy. In short, unless we seek first the kingdom this music is always going to be dissonant with our lives.


But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.

The children of wisdom are the ones who are seen to dance with the flute and to mourn with the dirge. Their lives are in tune with the rhythms and the music of heaven. They have the freedom that comes from not trying to force their own realities unto the world.

If we are unsure what deserves dance and what deserves sorrow we should be attentive to the household of God in which we live. This household helps us to know the seasons of this life, both of mourning and of rejoicing. The larger rhythms of the liturgical seasons help us learn how to live in the seasons of our own individual lives. The joy and even the sorrow to which we are called are not natural but supernatural. They are gifts that are only found in this household. Only in this household do we learn how and when to avail ourselves of them.

But if I should be delayed,
you should know how to behave in the household of God,
which is the Church of the living God,
the pillar and foundation of truth.

The Church teaches us that for every forty days of fasting there is a longer period of feasting waiting for us. She teaches us to keep our eyes fixed on the resurrection, on heaven, on life with Christ forever.

Who was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated in the spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed to the Gentiles,
believed in throughout the world,
taken up in glory.

Let us listen to the music the LORD is playing. We can trust that he has our good always in mind. His music will give sanity to the inevitable highs and lows of life.

Great are the works of the LORD,
exquisite in all their delights.