Your voice is an instrument

On the way to Church this morning we had Paul and Ruth's 3 oldest in the back seat... Simon and David were singing and it sounded so good that we started a conversation that your voice is an instrument.  This led to singing like a piano and a trumpet, and a reminder that no matter where you go your voice/instrument goes with you wherever you go and is a beautiful gift to be treasured and used to promote beautiful music in this world.  What would this world be like without the sound of beautiful music to uplift our hearts, minds and souls? 

I think that it is pretty obvious what Rose will be for Halloween, but I will leave it there.. 

After this conversation on the way to Church and with a cold that prevented me from singing out and without noseblowing and coughing with a raspy throat... behind me sat John along with a classmate of his and his wife.  To hear the beautiful voices of those two young men singing along loud and clear and enthusiastically and beautifully really made my heart melt in great gratitude for Faith that is shared through our voice/instrument!  The second reading from 2 Timothy 3 is a powerful reminder of how Scripture is inspired by God..."from infancy you have known the sacred Scriptures, which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work."  How does this enter into my thoughts on our voice?  I am led to the Community of the Lamb and how they sing always in their prayer!  Some have said that it is a requirement to have a beautiful voice/instrument to join the order, and that certainly is true of our Susan/Hallel!  Because they sing always and with great joyful beauty!  Attending one of their masses - it is sung in its' entirety!  The reverence and beauty lifts you up to that heavenly place where heaven comes down to earth at the consecration.  You have no doubt that Christ has arrived and the angels and Saints are falling on their knees in worship!

The men and boys go farming and the girls are here at home. 

One more way the Community uses their voices to take the Word, and they become Christ/His Word as they knock on the doors of the poor... they begin the night before "chewing" the Gospel - chanting/singing each verse numerous times and then speaking it many times.  When you do this there are many special thoughts that jump out at you, and The Spirit enlightens and reveals deep inner stirrings that are Of HIM!  Fr Paul spoke today about how we need to pray always... I don't know about you, but when I take time to sit in prayer with my rosary in hand - there are thoughts and feelings that come to me which I know are coming to me from the Holy Spirit!  That silent restful time of going to the mountain to pray alone are so powerful and cherished and precious!

A picture of loving total prayer!

Jesus, today there is so much reminding us of the great gift we have been given by our voice.  It is how we praise YOU and worship YOU.  Our voice raises from our inner place of worship and praise to You.  So special to use our voice to share your Truth with all those that we meet on the journey called The Narrow Path carrying our Most Cherished Cross.  St Paul to Timothy today - "proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient ; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching."  May we use our voice to share the JOY we find in your Truth!  May those around us see with their eyes what we hold deep in our hearts.  As St Francis says - 'Share the Gospel and when necessary use words."  Jesus, we trust in YOU.  Amen and Hallelujah

Bless-bless, Barb

100 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

² Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.
³ Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
⁴ Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
⁵ For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

Psalm 100

Hallel's JOY gives us peace at her happiness being a spouse to Our Lord!

Peter Mayer - Holy Now

Danielle Rose - Nothing compares to YOU

David and Therese meeting the new Bishop in El Paso, who has ties to MN and WI!  Maria missed the picture when Dave ran up and gave him a leg hug and he picked him up to return the hug!  Too cool, and a great love for our amazing self-giving priests and religious!