ChrisSkinner.

You Answered Me'  Psalm 138 'is another song of thanksgiving and led me to reflect on intercessory prayer which of course is included during Mass. The psalmist is grateful to God for their prayer being answered and for God’s constant presence, saving, strengthening and loving. I took the liberty of including a verse of intercessory prayer in this song.

‘Love is Prepared’ was inspired by a story shared by a staff member about her husband. I was deeply moved by what her husband was prepared to sacrifice for his family.

 

‘Acclaim the Lord Our God’ captures something of why we gather at Mass, to give worship and praise to God. I was thinking particularly of the entrance song here.

'You Bless Me Lord' is not based on a psalm. It is a simple acknowledgement of how we are blessed by God every moment of our lives even when God seems distant. 

For the people of Israel, there was a blessing prayer (Berakah) to thank God for everything to transform every moment of one’s day into a thanksgiving offering. There were prayers of gratitude for the rising of the sun, for the gift of food and for the sleep one was to enjoy.  During the Mass, a prayer like this is used over the gifts of bread and wine, ‘Blessed are you Lord God of all creation for through your goodness we have received this bread we offer………. We are reminded that all created reality is God’s gift and blessing to us and that we are offering the gifts of creation back to God.

 

‘Go Out, Go Now’, as the words suggest, is a song for the end of Mass. We are missioned to live out in our lives what we have witnessed together in the celebration of the Eucharist. The priest at the end of the Mass invites and commissions the congregation to ‘Go in peace glorifying the Lord by your life’ and to ‘Go and announce the Gospel’.

 

The title of this collection of psalms and songs, ‘Making music to Your Name’ is taken from Psalm 92. This indeed has been my intention and privilege.