Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his mercy endures forever; Give thanks to the God of gods, for his mercy endures forever; Give thanks to the LORD of lords, for his mercy endures forever.

In all things, in all circumstances, give thanks because God loves you and His mercy endures forever.  A few weeks ago I posted how I wanted to receive our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and have the “rush” wash over my body.  If you recall, I shared with you to look for God in small things.  Last night, at our Mass celebrating the Assumption of Mary, I experienced another one of the “small” things.

There is something about music that can have such a powerful effect on my life – and I’m sure your life too.  When a certain song plays on the radio, that warm feeling you get because of the memories it brings back.  Maybe it was your ‘jam” back in the day; maybe it was playing when you met your wife, husband; maybe it was the song that played when your home team won a championship – I can name two right now that most of the people who read this (mainly because their my family or close friends of mine) will smile immediately – Celebration by Kool and the Gang and Gloria by Laura Brannigan.  Another song that takes me back to my youth and brings back vivid memories is Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty.

Last night I learned that even an old Church hymn can have that power.  We sang some of the old standards last night for the Assumption.  Our opening hymn was Sing of Mary.  (Let me digress just a bit here.  I have a unique seat at church because the organ and piano are up in the Choir loft now at St. Mary Magdalen.  Just as much as the heat rises up there (and I’m telling you, I literally sit on the hot seat now at Church), so do the voices.)  So when Mass started last night and the congregation – though not full – started singing the hymn, the sound that echoed up in the choir loft was angelic.  Fast forward to the closing hymn – Hail Holy Queen.  As is typical for the a Catholic standard hymn, I knew we would sing two verses.  So I started the first verse of Hail Holy Queen and was blown away by the singing of the congregation.  As I started the second verse, I continued playing the organ so as to keep the congregation singing but when I got to the refrain, I stopped playing completely.  The congregation sang even louder that final refrain.  Sarah even backed away from the microphone.  It was beeyouteefull.  Now I can tell you with quite certainty that not everyone singing last night could carry a tune (with or without a bucket) but that is the beauty and strength of singing out like that in a congregation.  (I’ll digress again – have you ever been to a concert where the band stops singing and playing but the crowd sings on in unison?  It is pretty powerful stuff!  So much so, they usually put that on any live album you listen to…)  So last night at the close of Mass I was treated to the unity of people who had just received the Body of Christ and they came together as one body to give honor to the Blessed Mother of God.  They joined the angels and the saints in one voice…

Triumph all ye Cherubim, Sing with us ye Seraphim.  Heaven and Earth resound the hymn.  Salve, Salve, Salve Regina.

It was one of those “small” things where I was able find that warmth of God rush over me.  I found God through the voice of the congregation last night.  Life is good.

I would ask that you pray for my son-in-law Garrett. Per his request I won’t go into any more detail than this, but when you say your prayers this morning, offer one up for him and my daughter Cecilia.  Thank-you.

Do something great for our Lord today – know that you are beautifully and wonderfully made.  Take some time to thank God for that.

God’s will, not mine, be done.

Be not afraid;  just have faith.

Jesus, I trust in You.

He must increase; I must decrease.