I’m frequently asked this question after Mass, to which I usually respond, “Because Sacred Scripture told me to!” The decision to use a certain song for Liturgy is not based on ‘happenstance’ or ‘eenie-meenie-minie-moe’ random thought. On the contrary! Each week I carefully read through the Scripture for the following Sunday and sometimes a song title will pop into my mind. Other times I may have to work at it a bit to find the appropriate music to sing. Most of the time the readings will have a clear theme, like "Good Shepherd Sunday" in April, or Sundays in Advent or Lent which remind us to reform our ways and turn to God.
November brings with it the obvious change in weather patterns, the return to standard time and less light in the evening. Our readings and music will take on a different tone as well. As we approach the end of the year, we hear about "end times" in Luke’s Gospel. During November we will sing the Mass parts from Steven R. Janco’s “Mass of the Angels and Saints”. This week we are reminded of the Book of Revelation as we sing the beloved song “Shall We Gather At the River?” by Baptist Minister, Robert Lowry. (This song is approved for use in the Catholic Church.) He asks the question, “Shall we gather?” then quickly answers it in the refrain, “Yes, we’ll gather!” We take comfort in the knowledge that we will soon be together on that golden day at the throne of God! May the "Shepherd of Souls" guide His lambs safely through this time of changing seasons.
