Psalm 62: “In you alone is my soul at rest. My help comes from You.”

"Without music life would be a mistake." Possibly a bit overstated. But coming from a man, Friedrich Nietzsche, who had pretty well rejected the repressive Christianity of his youth, it's at least something. Music is assumed as part of worship throughout much of Scripture and has had an immense place among Christians. What a difference a trumpet can make in the celebration of Easter or Christmas!

The First Book of Samuel (16:14-23) tells of how King Saul was tormented by an evil spirit which sounds a lot like what we would call bad moods. His attendants said they would look for "a man skilled in playing the harp" and that hearing him play would make him feel better. They found their harpist in multi-talented David. Whenever Saul was in one of his bad moods, "David would take up the harp and play, and Saul would be relieved and feel better for the evil spirit would leave him."

Music seems to be one of the most outstanding of God's gifts, clearly mediated through the talents of our fellow human beings. Prayer, medicine, talk, counseling, all have their place in overcoming our low spirits, our bad, even grouchy moods. But here's another help for many of us which, given how easily technology makes it available, seems obvious.

The variety of music available to us on recordings should provide something appropriate for almost any human being who has ever responded to music. Music, I suspect, has fewer side effects than medication. A Christian could modify Nietzsche's phrase in a number of ways. "Life would be awfully miserable without music." "Life is harder to take without music." "Music is another way in which God touches us and gives us joy."

Psalm 27: “I believe I shall see the Lord’s goodness / in the land of the living.

Wait for the Lord; be strong; / be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord!”

Reply to Fr. Don at: DTalafous@csbsju.edu

Watch Daily Mass online at: SaintJohnsAbbey.org/live

Send your prayer requests to the monks