"Psalm 150 Praise Ye the Lord" by Jessi Colter
I found this album thanks to an All Songs Considered episode with Lenny Kaye, who produced it. He got the idea when he came over to Waylon and Jessi's house, and Jessi was sitting at the piano. She was just playing whatever popped in her head and singing from a Bible open on her lap. In our Church, we have a long tradition of chant. Chant allows you to sing anything - and just like I said in my Holy Thursday reflection, singing adds another dimension to your prayer. Jessi Colter, whether she realizes it or not, participates in that.
I suppose I always knew that about chant, but I didn't really enjoy it. I was visiting my great-aunt one weekend at the Mount St. Scolastica convent in Atchinson, Kansas, when I got up for morning prayer with the community. I had prayed the liturgy of the hours before, but never chanted the entire thing. It took a long time, but it gave space to really internalize the words. And singing them gave a whole new dimension. I felt like I really understood chant for the first time, but more importantly, I really felt chant for the first time.
I suppose I always knew that about chant, but I didn't really enjoy it. I was visiting my great-aunt one weekend at the Mount St. Scolastica convent in Atchinson, Kansas, when I got up for morning prayer with the community. I had prayed the liturgy of the hours before, but never chanted the entire thing. It took a long time, but it gave space to really internalize the words. And singing them gave a whole new dimension. I felt like I really understood chant for the first time, but more importantly, I really felt chant for the first time.
What better day do we have to praise the Lord than today? In our feelings, our own words, in the words of the psalmists, in dance or music or cooking or whatever we do to make our space more beautiful. Because today is beautiful. Our God loves us so much He died. God loves us so much He conquered death and brought us eternal life. How else do we respond?
Psalm 150 (King James Version)
1 Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.
How will you bring some beauty to the world today? How will you express this psalm today?
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