JANUARY 2020
For years, I pointed this text at everyone but myself, but eventually I started wrestling with it on my own behalf. What does it mean to forgive? How should the act of forgiving another person change me? What is a proper Christian response to the fellow Catholic who views natural disasters as God’s punishment for “America’s tolerance of homosexuality”? (Yes, I really did encounter that one.)
What does it mean to be truly pro-life, womb to tomb, when the gift of a baby with a disability might involve, as it did for me, five therapy appointments a week, ICU stays, open-heart surgery, and battles with insurance—all before the age of 3? Surely being pro- life is bigger than the right to be born. If the life of a child with a disability is of value to society, doesn’t it follow that society should help carry the burden?
Our faith, for good or ill, is visible in every interaction we have with the world, from hot-button political issues to how we behave in traffic (especially if we display religious bumper stickers!) and the things we share or say on Facebook. Everything we do—or don’t do—tells the world something about God.
Pastoral music has shaped these discernments in my life; it can do the same for our assemblies. Te music we walk out of church singing will stay with us through the week. It comforts those in pain, but it can also light a fire under us and make us squirm.
When we as pastoral musicians do our job well, a powerful force works through us. We are cooperating with God to drop pebbles in a still pond and send out ripples into the world. But our ministry, like our witness outside the church walls, will be stronger and more effective the better in tune we are with God. How well do we reflect the divine image in the world through our words and actions? Perhaps the music we sing can guide some self-reflection:
• Is God truly my shepherd, who fulfills my every want? Or am I anxious and fearful, trying to control my world and taking out my failure on others through anger?
• Do I truly see that “the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord”? How does that shape
the way I interact with creation? Am I aware of the times when I’m cavalier about my use of resources? Do I look for ways to reduce my consumption? Do I pick up trash? Do I bring home fast food silverware and trays for recycling? Do I turn off the car when I’m checking my phone or waiting in pickup lines?
• Do I actually believe that “whatsoever you do to the least of my people, that you do unto me”?2 How does (or how should) that belief shape my approach to divisive issues like gun control, immigration, race, and poverty?
• Do my coworkers, family members, online friends and opponents “know I am Christian by my love”?3 Do I take time to form my opinions by seeking out in-depth analysis I can measure against the teachings of the Church, or do I knee-jerk share inflammatory memes and hyper-partisan sound bites?
Perhaps, if we use the music we sing as an examen, our very work can help us move beyond being a “practicing” Catholic and toward being intentional about living our Catholic faith in the real world. Ten that faith, made manifest in visible, practical ways outside the church walls, will come with us into our ministry. It will lift up our worship and help us send ripples back out into the world—a holy symbiosis among us, our communities, and God.
And that is a beautiful thing.
1 “We Will Serve the Lord.” Rory Cooney, Oregon Catholic Press, 1985, 2000.
2 “Whatsoever You Do,” Willard F. Jabusch, administered by Oregon Catholic Press, 1967, 1977.
3 “Tey’ll Know We Are Christians,” Fr. Peter Scholtes, F.E.L. Publications, 1966, assigned to Te Lorenz Corp., 1991.
Author, mother, and liturgical composer Kathleen Basi is the founder of
intentional-catholic.com. She is one of the presenters at NPM’s 2020 national convention
in Louisville in July. Find her music for Catholic worship through GIA and World Library Publications.
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