How to build God’s house? Start by singing
The Psalm (95/96) has this title: “When the house was being built after the captivity.” “What house?”, you ask. The Psalmist answers immediately: “Sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth!” That’s what house. When all the earth sings the new song, it is the house of God. It is built by singing; it is being founded on believing; it is being erected by hoping; it is being completed by loving. It’s being built now, and it will be dedicated at the end of the world. Let the living stones rush together, then, toward the new song; let them rush together and be fitted together and thus become the structure that is God’s temple. Let them acknowledge the Savior and receive him as the one who dwells there. (Augustine, Sermon 27, 1; PL 38, 178)
An important corollary to this is the fact that, first and foremost, singing – or music in general – in God’s house need not be dull, solemn and too much like a concert. It must be music of the people and joyful:
Psalm 100:
A psalm of thanksgiving. Shout joyfully to the LORD, all you lands; worship the LORD with cries of gladness; come before him with joyful song.
Know that the LORD is God, our maker to whom we belong, whosepeople we are, God’s well-tended flock. Enter the temple gates with praise, its courts with thanksgiving. Give thanks to God, bless his name; good indeed is the LORD, Whose love endures forever, whose faithfulness lasts through every age.
The KJV even substitutes “shouts” for “cries.”
Fr. Komonchak, thank-you for this wonderful series of posts. It allows me to snatch another moment of prayer in a busy day.
It amazes me how often in Scripture the (common) priesthood is characterized by a command to the other creatures: “Hey you! Yes you, you rivers and forests! Now sing for joy!!”