By Sister Michele Morek

In church I have always liked to sit where I can see the organ pipes. (This is hard if the organ is in a choir loft, but easy in our Mount Saint Joseph chapel!)  The pipes are variously tall and short, big and slender – just like the congregation. I love to study them even when the organ is not being played.

Each one stands in silence, but with its little mouth open – seemingly alert and ready to sound its tone at the organist’s command. Then the breath of the spirit fills it, and it obediently sings its one note. Just one note! It was crafted and set in place to sing that one note.

I look around the chapel at our Sisters, and marvel at each one’s uniqueness. How amazing to think that each one of us has been made to sing our particular song – as simple as it might be – and take our place in Earth’s great symphony of praise. And ask any musician: if that one little pipe does not sound at the time ordained for it, the chord will be “off,” the hymn incomplete.

So, it’s important for each of us to listen for our cue, to let the breath of the Spirit sound according to plan. A quotation that sits framed on my desk is: 

Above all obey the counsels and inspiration which the Holy Spirit unceasingly sends into our hearts. – Saint Angela Merici

At Pentecost, the Apostles and Disciples listened to that Breath and began to realize the significance of their call, whether they were men or women, simple fishermen or tax collectors. And they let the music of the Spirit sound through them and began to sing the great symphony of the Christian story.

Reflect on the note you have been destined to sing!