I want to start this now because Easter is an easier season to start this in. Many of the songs I choose during this season are more focused on the season and on resurrection. This makes it a little less overwhelming for new music ministers to start picking strong songs for the readings.
The Entrance Antiphon this weekend is, "Like newborn infants, you must long for the pure, spiritual milk, that in him you may grow to salvation, alleluia." This might seem a bit confusing at first but what I see is an obvious call to focus on God and a clear importance of ALLELUIA! For more traditional liturgies I tend to use the song, Alleluia, Alleluia! (Hymn to Joy). It emphasizes the things that we should be thinking about during this season. But most importantly, it is triumphant, and well received my most communities that I have been in. It's almost expected.
In the second reading we focus on Love. Not only God's love for us but our love for God. We can't feel that following God is not burdensome. To think that sometimes we feel weighed down by following the commandments even right after remembering the burdens Jesus carried in his passion. Love conquers all and this readings reminds us about this. In the LifeTeen liturgy I chose "Can We Love?" by Tom Booth because it is a call to look inside on self and remember how much Jesus loved us. Can we really go as far as he did in return? Could we wear the crown of thorns? Could we handle that test? It's a song that challenges us to remember that love isn't always easy.
The Gospel this weekend talks about the event when Jesus appeared to his disciples but Thomas wasn't there. He didn't believe what was told to him and he wouldn't believe unless he saw it for himself and placed his hands in the wounds. The phrase "Doubting Thomas" was born. At least he isn't Sir John Harrington. How often are we doubting Thomas'. How often do we decide that we have to see sign in our lives to be reminded that God is alive in us? We take so much for granted when we could be believing in God's hand in our lives sooner. The song I chose for this at the LifeTeen mass is a song I wrote called "I Believe" Here are the lyrics.
Why
should I doubt like Thomas when you stand at my side?
Why
should I doubt like Thomas when I know you’re glorified?
I
believe, I believe,
I
may not see your hands, your feet
I
may not see Your side that’s pierced
But
Alleluia Lord, I believe, I believe.
Why
should I sink like Peter when we walk across the sea?
Why
should I sing like Peter when your hands are holding me?
I
believe, I believe,
I
may not see your hands, your feet
I
may not see Your side that’s pierced
But
Alleluia Lord, I believe, I believe.
This song doesn't just touch on Thomas' doubts, but also Peter's famous moment of doubt. He didn't just believe and he almost sank into the sea. I once heard it explained to me like this though. What about the other men in the boat. Didn't they fail even worse than Peter? They didn't even step out in faith to begin with. They stayed in the boat where it was safe. This reading is reminding us that we need to believe more. We need to take that leap of faith in our daily lives.
I hope this helps in some way and if you have any particular questions about song choices or music ministry please contact me at:
AlexNavasMusic@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/AlexNavasBand
