One of the questions that I often get asked as a musician: what is the secret? How do you become a better organist? Is there some sort of trick? Why are you playing differently than others- with passion, with enthusiasm, and with confidence? While there are a number of things that can help, practice, learning better skill and techniques, amongst other things, I would say that one of my secrets to success may be rather unexpected, and yet, in my view, still necessary: surround yourself with great organists and musicians. Listen to their music- and be inspired and motivated to go and practice with vigor! It isn’t to set up any sort of threat or trepidation, but there is the need to be inspired! You have to be able to listen and to hear the music and the talent of others to really engage and push you to practice, to improve, and to apply yourself!
Make no mistake: when we walk through the midst of our Lenten journey, we may start to fixate and focus on sinfulness, on weakness, maybe on our own littleness when we approach God. Yet, with all of these things, and in these days, aren’t we being challenged to look past the shortcomings, and perhaps to have a greater awakening and awareness of our relationship to God in the midst of our reflection, our fasting, and our Lenten observance? Aren’t we supposed to be inspired by those around us to live out our faith in deeper and more profound ways? I daresay that we are being invited to a greater motivation in these Lenten days to follow our Lord- and to even be inspired to follow with greater fervor and devotion!
To begin, we should start off with Genesis, and the telling the story of Abram. To give you some idea of what is going on here, this is a dialogue that God is having with Abram. We get this very beautiful image of the way that the Lord very vividly paints out what He intends and plans to do with Abram. In fact, it is more than just a mere plan, but it is also a promise. He is formulating a covenant to Abram. This image of Abram’s descendants being as numerous as the stars would have been very unbelievable to him, and yet, Abram responds in faith and puts his trust in God- something that may have been difficult. Yet, God, sees that interaction, and responds favorably.
Notice the next section, though. God starts to lay out a very vivid picture of who he is, and just how much Abram can trust him. He reminds him of the works that have been done for him, and still, again promises this covenant, as Abram gives up a sacrifice. He is so aware of what God is doing- and his eyes have been opened to it- that he responds in the deepest of faith, as much as it could have been tempting to doubt, especially considering the circumstances that Abram might have felt would make this impossible. He simply looked up towards that night sky and was filled with belief.
The second reading is taken from Saint Paul and his letter to the Philippians. This letter is an exhortation- an encouragement- to follow their models of faith. To observe those who lead them closer to Christ, and to follow their way and their example. Paul is aware that there are those who conduct themselves differently, and even contradict Christ in their actions. He is not so concerned with them but does want the Philippians to have a certain consciousness about them concerning the fact that these individuals are out there. He sees that their end is destruction, and their God is their stomach- and they will end in shame. He moves on, though, reminding his audience that their citizenship is in heaven- and they should await Jesus- who will show them His glory! Stand firm in God- and be unshakable in seeing Christ very clearly!
Finally, we arrive at the Gospel of Luke, at the story of the Transfiguration- that moment when Christ appears to three of His disciples in an aura of glory. We are told that this entire journey begins as a moment of prayer- Jesus took these disciples up the mountain to pray. Eventually, in the midst of this prayer a dramatic change of appearance happens- and Jesus begins to shine in this dazzling white, while Moses and Elijah also appear in glory- and they speak of what Jesus is about to do.
Notice the disciples at this point, though! They have been overcome by sleep up to this point. They had become drowsy, but all of a sudden, they are jolted awake by the sheer splendor of what they are witnessing! They go from this state of slumber to a new level of consciousness and awareness. This happens for them in a couple of ways. First, there is the level we expect: they are experiencing a physical fatigue, followed by a physical awakening. The second, though, is something spiritual. Jesus is manifesting His glory to them to prepare them for the coming trial and tribulations. He wants them to understand that everything being done is for the glory that He not only will accomplish, but also wants to bring to each of them as well. This is an intense moment for them- so much so that it seems that Peter was unaware of what he should say or do, and they had a certain fright in what they had seen and what they had heard. The one thing they do know: the voice of the Father comes thundering out- this is my chosen Son: listen to him!” In the moments that come up, it is imperative that they hear this calling, because there will be some difficulties and trials ahead for them!
However, with all of these things going on, notice: Abram is enlightened looking at the night sky. Paul is encouraging the Philippians to be aware of those who lead them to Christ. Christ Himself manifests glory to the disciples and encourages them onward in the midst of trial and the great difficulties ahead. My brothers and sisters, the point of contact that this reaches for a lot of us, likely, is the fact that we are in a time of spiritual awakening in the midst of Lent. It isn’t a time we just set aside to do these penances and give things up for no particular reason. Rather, it is to allow us to awaken and to have a deeper awareness of what we are doing. As a musician, it is vital to have an awareness of and to be inspired to follow God in a greater way during this season. This does require some work to remove things that inhibit that, but it also requires us to look for that inspiration also- to have our eyes open and seeking!
Abram is a phenomenal example of someone who invites us into deeper faith. We need to go out and look at the great promises God makes to him, but not for the sole purpose of seeing what God did for Abram, but for the purpose of seeing what God wants to promise for us. He wants to give us hope in the midst of our darkness, and even promise us much greater things than we can possibly imagine happening! We need to have the eyes of faith, however, to see and to reap these rewards!
Further, if we listen to Saint Paul, we get two options in this life: we can live as an example and inspiration to follow Christ, or we can live in the drowsiness of someone else who decides to simply follow their own way. We can be imitators of Christ, or we can live as if we don’t know Him at all. Yet, Saint Paul reminds us of the consequences of both different ways of living. The deepest challenge, my brothers and sisters, may perhaps be the fact that we may struggle to be awake, to be faithful, and to remain inspired to see God’s glory! Peter, James, and John go up on the mountain to pray, and yet, there is that struggle with drowsiness, with fear, and with so many other things going on, and they begin to fall asleep. Yet, the glory of Christ awakens them, and it fortifies them. Even in the midst of their fear, they begin to be challenged and enlightened to the fact of the glory that God calls them to experience! They feel motivated and empowered to follow God in a new way!
That really can be a question for all of us to consider: are we awake, are we inspired to follow God, or are we drowsy and consumed with fear, with weakness, or with countless other things? It can be easy to live in fear or to live in indifference, much like the uninspired organist or musician. Yet, we know that God calls us to, even in spite of the challenges, the fears, and the sufferings we may experience in this life, to follow Him! He wants us to have that awareness of Him, and His love and His care for each of us- but we have to be open, receptive, and aware of what God is doing! That is the encouragement we receive! The question that remains: as we go throughout this week, how are we going to be inspired? Are we going to spend less time on social media, or less time watching the evening news, and more time on what matters? Are we going to rest from those tiring weaknesses and sins that might come so easily, and yet, leave us empty? Maybe we can read a little more scripture, or that Catholic book we have put off for so long! Listen to a new podcast. Whatever we do, we should be filled with passion and with faith during these forty days!
My brothers and sisters, we are being invited up to the mountain to pray this Lent. Let’s be so inspired by those around us to follow as we become awake and aware, so that we can more clearly hear the Father’s voice! “This is my chosen Son; listen to Him!”
