Encounter – Share the Journey
“Praise and Honor to you our Lord Jesus Christ”
The tune of this year’s Lenten Gospel Acclamation is a Latin Kyrie. Many of you will recognize the tune. My hope is that this acclamation brings beautiful history of our Catholic tradition to life again – the Gregorian chant and the joy of singing without accompaniment. Who knows – by the end of Lent, even WE may be singing it acapella!
“There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy/Be Merciful”
Several years ago Pope Francis declared a Year of Mercy – a time to unfold God’s merciful love for us and to encourage us to share mercy with each other. One of my favorite song texts that year was this song. The first part of the song is the traditional text of the hymn “There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy.” But the second part for me helps me make sense of the first part – “So be merciful, just as our God is merciful. Let there be a wideness in God’s mercy, Let there be a kindness in our hearts. Oh, may our lives be merciful.” What a beautiful sentiment. Our world needs mercy and kindness more than ever. Who belongs and who doesn’t? Who deserves another chance? In God’s eyes – we all belong and we all deserve another chance. My hope is that this song will help us open our hearts to those who are different than us; those who inconvenience us a bit because they don’t speak our language or know our customs. May you go home singing and living – “May there be a wideness in God’s mercy; let there be a kindness in our hearts.”
~Mary Robertson, Director of Liturgy and Music