Lift up Your Voices

Sirach 47:2-11

Today in the first reading from Sirach we read the synopsis of David's victories. I would like to focus on these verses..."With his whole being he loved his Maker and daily had his praises sung; He set singers before the altar and by their voices he made sweet melodies. He added beauty to the feasts and solemnized the seasons."

We have David's love of music to thank for the liturgical music we enjoy today. We have David to thank for placing importance on singing as a vital part of our liturgical celebrations. David set an example for us of beautiful uplifting choral music. David saw that lifting our voices to praise God added beauty to our prayer experience.

The word meaning 'to sing' was one of the most commonly used words in the Bible. It occurs 309 times in the Old Testament and thirty-six times in the New Testament. Simply using words for prayer did not seem sufficient enough. Singing seems to mean more. Just think about your birthday...it is nice for your friends and family to wish you happy birthday, but when they sing the greeting to you it is more exciting.

We find the first mention of singing in the Bible after the crossing of the Red Sea. Israel has now been definitively delivered from slavery. This joyous occasion caused them to break into song. They believed in their salvation and in Moses. "Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord" (Exodus15:1).

St. Augustine says, "Singing is a lover's thing." The Holy Spirit is love, and it is he who produces the singing. He is the Spirit of Christ, the Spirit who draws us into love for Christ and so leads to the Father. (The Spirit of the Liturgy, p 142 Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger)

David was so filled with love that he was also filled with song. God had truly done great things for him. He knew from first hand experience that God's name was holy. Today our liturgical music draws from these same words of scripture written and sung by David so many years ago.

The love David felt for God providential care burst forth from him in song; just as it should burst forth from our souls during Mass. We are raising our voices together through the love we have for Jesus and the Eucharist.

St. Augustine has also been credited with the phrase, "He who sings prays twice."

Song is a natural part of who we are as creatures of God. Throughout the world we find in every culture similarities in the songs mothers sing to their young children. Lullabies it seems comes from the heart filled with love; so overflowing that it is released in sweet melodies.

So every time you have the opportuntiy to lift your voices to give praise to the Lord I hope you will participate. As you sing you join in expressing your heart felt love for the Lord.

Singing together in community is praying together.

I chose this orginal image of an icon of Mary we use for our Taize services.

How beautiful Mary's singing to her child Jesus must have been.

This kaleidoscope image captures the beauty of how our singing voices lift in prayer.

Join us for Taize next month.