SINGING TO GOD -- SONG AS PRAYER

 

(St. Francis playing the violin)

Psalm 144:9    O GOD, A NEW SONG I WILL SING TO YOU.

DO WE CONSIDER OUR SINGING, OUR SONGS, AS PRAYER?

St. Jerome is quoted as saying:  "When we sing, we pray twice!"   The following reflection by Sr. Bridget Haase, O.S.U. appeared in LIVING FAITH  (www.livingfaith.com) for Saturday, November 24th.  It raises an interesting reflection about singing and praying for us.  Might we consider that the songs we sing, certainly in Church, but just perhaps, even while driving the car singing along with the radio, humming a favorite tune, in the shower, while we work, etc. might indeed be  'prayer'? 

"Guess what, Sister?", my fifth-grader Estelle blurted out.  "Sometimes my heart's words become a song to God.  That's called prayer."   It was a fitting reminder that God loves to hear the lyrics in our hearts even if, like that November day, I was singing the spiritual blues.

In the psalmist's hymn today (Psalm 144), we chant a promise:  We will sing a new song.  The "new" depends on what we need God to do for us.  As another liturgical year soon begins, perhaps we hope God showers us with amazing grace; comforts us by trading our life's rugged cross for a crown;  transforms us into channels of peace; unites us more deeply as one bread, one body.   In singing each day from our heart,  our prayer will be sincere and will bellow forth in expectation and praise to our God from whom all blessings flow.