Marvels of Mass

We have begun yet another Lenten season.  Time again to remember to pray, fast and give alms. The Art & Environment in church as well as the music is designed to draw us all into this Lenten atmosphere.  As a reminder, as I’ve stated in previous years, here are the directions that we are given by the Church in the Roman Missal:
During Lent, it is not permitted to decorate the altar with flowers, and the use of musical
instruments is allowed only so as to support the singing. Nevertheless, Laetare Sunday (the

The opening antiphon today is from Psalm 95 – O come, let us worship God and bow low before our God who
made us, for he is the Lord our God. We sing of this in our opening hymn, “God, We Praise You”, originally attributed to St. Nicolas in the 4th century:

God, we praise you! God, we bless you!
God, we name you sovereign Lord!
Mighty King whom angels worship, Father, by your Church adored:
All creation shows your glory, Heaven and
earth draw near your throne,
Singing, “Holy, holy, holy” Lord of hosts
and God alone!

We continue reading from the Gospel of Mark this Sunday, and hear of Jesus’ authority over unclean spirits as He casts them out of various people. The people of that time were starting to understand who He was as His fame was spreading throughout the region. Do we share in their amazement as they see His works? Are we starting to understand who He is and why He came to earth? Hopefully as we travel with Jesus through the Gospel of Mark, we will grow in our own faith just as the people at the time of Jesus grew in their faith through His words and works.

We gather together today singing “Let us go to the altar of God, the God of our gladness and joy! Let us enter the courts of the house of the Lord and sing to the glory of God.” It was just a few weeks ago that we heard this song by the angels singing of the glory of God at His birth! Hopefully our voices are joining with the angels in praise of God as we gather in prayer!

This Sunday’s readings revolve around hearing and answering God’s call in our life.

Our music selections reflect this, especially in our song during the presentation of gifts and preparation of the altar. “Here I Am, Lord” is a good text for reflection: “Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night. I will go, Lord, if you lead me.” (D. Schutte)

This weekend we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord. The Gospel tells us of Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. After the baptism, “a voice came from the heavens, saying: ‘You are my beloved Son, with you I am well pleased.’” (Mark 1:11)

Our opening song, “When Jesus Comes to Be Baptized”, speaks of this baptism. The tune is one we know to the words of an Advent song – “On Jordan’s Bank”. The tune is called Winchester New.

In many liturgical scholars’ thoughts, this feast of Epiphany should perhaps be its own liturgical season, separate from Christmas, but more encompassing than just one Sunday with the appearance of our beloved Three Kings. The word ‘Epiphany’ is often referred to as a manifestation, or an experience of striking and sudden realization; its actual etymology comes from Greek and means ‘to appear’. This weekend, with the Three Kings, we have the first of these ‘epiphanies’.

Today’s liturgical feast of the Holy Family honors Jesus; his mother, Mary; and his foster father, Saint Joseph; and their model as a family for all Christians. It was instituted in 1893 by Pope Leo XIII with the date of the feast to fall on the Sunday within the Octave of the Epiphany (January 7–13). With the revision of the Roman calendar in 1969, the feast is now celebrated within the Octave of Christmas – meaning, it always falls on the Sunday following Christmas.

Each year on the 4th Sunday of Advent, we hear of the visitation of the angel Gabriel to Mary, announcing that she has conceived and will bear a son. “Hail, full of grace! (remember the Holy Day we celebrated on December 8th of Mary’s own Immaculate Conception within her mother’s womb? This is a reference to that belief. She was born with-out the stain of original sin.) The Lord is with you.” Mary’s response: “May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)

“Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus… May the God of peace make you perfectly holy and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body, be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ….” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24)