>Today the gospel was the Sermon on the Mount, by Luke. In his sermon Fr. Allen pointed out that while Matthew tells the same story essentially, there is a difference. Matthew has eight “Happy are” statements. Luke has four of those, and four “Woes.” Part of the beauty of the readings today is the seeming nonsequitur nature of the statements themselves. It is all antithetical to what we in our world conditioned state believe to be true. How do we live it out?
On to the melisma singing today. A melisma is a musical term that means more than one note is sung in one syllable. It is used most often in chant for the ends of a phrase. It can be described as a leaf that swings gently, side to side, as it falls to earth. It is a form of emphasis, that gives the music a lilting quality. By the end of the entrance chant I was already hearing to myself, “By the waters of Babylon.” Why? I don’t know. Probably the melisma.
Music has great power. What a shame so few people find it.
