The 18th Sunday in

Ordinary Time

2 August 2009

Saint Andrew & Saint William

Catholic Church in Verona, Wisconsin

If we step back for a moment to contemplate the first reading today from the
Book of Exodus (16:2-4, 12-15), we should find little or no difficulty empathizing
with the Israelites travelling through the desert on the way to the Promised
Land of Canaan. At this point in history, God’s chosen people Israel – our
fathers in faith – are not painted in such a great light as we encounter them in
this passage from Sacred Scripture. It appears as though they are walking
aimlessly through the desert, frustrated to the point of whining and complaining
to Moses. Recalling previous passages from Exodus (especially from the readings
of the Easter Vigil), we know that Israel’s sojourn in the desert follows their
deliverance from the pharaoh of Egypt. With this in mind, we should be shocked
at the disgraceful commentary coming from the mouths of those whom God had
just saved:
“Would that we had died at the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt, as we sat by
our fleshpots and ate our fill of bread! But you had to lead us into this desert to
make the whole community die of famine!”
Basically, God’s people Israel had become so impatient and ungrateful throughout
their journey to the Promised Land that they began to forsake their recent
deliverance from Egypt, wishing that they had never left pharaoh’s tyrrany! But
the Lord answered their complaints and gave them that day their daily bread,
feeding them manna (or divinely supplied spiritual nourishment) from heaven.
Is it not true that we can fall into this habit as members of the Church – the
Body of Christ? No doubt some of the Israelites had forgotten their hope in the
Lord, turning instead to their individual wants. So can we sometimes give in to
the temptation of thinking about ourselves before the Church – setting ourselves
in opposition to God’s Will, which is delivered to us through the Church with
Christ as the Head. In the Gospel Acclamation today, the cantor sings the verse:
"One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the
mouth of God." Perhaps the Lord satisfied the hunger of the Israelites not only
by feeding their bodies, but also by daily revealing His Divine Will, reminding
them that they are destined for the Promised Land. Perhaps we might all find
refreshment in the "Our Father" – the very prayer that our Lord Jesus gave to us
– praying that we would be given the bread that daily sustains us: Jesus Christ,
the Bread of Life, the very Word that comes forth from the mouth of God. May
we always keep our eyes and wills united to the Will of God – resisting the
temptation to think selfishly – moving together with the pilgrim Church ever
closer to the eternal Jerusalem.

Introductory Rites
Hymn at the Procession – 686
Praise to the Lord Tune: LOBE DEN HERREN
Kyrie eleison Chant Mode III
(Greek)
Kyrie eleison. Lord, have mercy.
Christe eleison. Christ, have mercy.
Kyrie eleison. Lord, have mercy.

Gloria in excelsis Mass on G

Calvin M. Bower

Choir/Cantor alone:
Lord Jesus Christ,
only Son of the Father,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
you take away the
sins of the world:

Choir/Cantor alone:
You are seated at the
right hand of the Father:
Opening Collect
The Priest prays the collect. All respond, Amen.

Liturgy of the Word

Reading I Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15

Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 78

Michel Guimont

Reading II Ephesians 4:17, 20-24

Put on the new self which has been created in righteousness.

Gospel Acclamation A. Gregory Murray, O.S.B.

One does not live on bread alone, but on every word

that comes forth from the mouth of God.

Gospel Reading John 6:24-35

He who comes to Me shall not hunger,

and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

Homily Rev. William F. Vernon

Pastor
 Liturgy of the Eucharist
Hymn at the Offertory – 501
Shepherd of Souls, Refresh and Bless Tune: ST. AGNES

Sanctus et Benedictus Mass for the City

Richard Proulx

Memorial Acclamation Mass for the City

Richard Proulx

Great Amen Mass for the City

Richard Proulx

Communion Rite
The Our Father Traditional Chant
Sung by all in English.
Lamb of God Richard Proulx

Antiphon at the Communion

I Am the Bread of Life Tune: Suzanne Toolan

Hymn of Thanksgiving
Hail to the Lord’s Anointed Tune: ELLACOMBE
Prayer after Communion

Concluding Rites
Final Blessing and Dismissal

Organ Postlude

Musical Remarks
The Gloria in excelsis Deo, Latin for "Glory to God in the highest," is the
opening phrase of one of oldest hymns in all of Christian liturgical music, dating
back to the 3rd century A.D. Some historians actually date this hymn even
earlier! It originated from an ancient Greek form of a text from the Gospel of
Saint Luke, when the angels sang a hymn of praise following the Birth of Christ
(Luke 2:14). Verses have been appended to this, forming a trinitarian doxology
that praises the three Persons of the Blessed Trinity: Father, Son, and Spirit.
The setting we have begun to sing this weekend will be used for the
remaining weeks of Ordinary Time and should prove to be a valuable hymn in our
parish repertoire. The new setting of the Gloria presents the exact same text, and
the music was written by Dr. Calvin M. Bower, emeritus Professor of Music at
the University of Notre Dame in Notre Dame, IN. Dr. Bower's music has been
sung throughout the Diocese of Madison, especially his setting of the Gloria,
used at the 2009 Chrism Mass at St. Maria Goretti Church. At Saint Andrew's
we have heard several of Dr. Bower's compositions, including Psalm 116 "The Cup
of Salvation" as well as the Lenten Gospel Acclamation "Glory to You, Word of
God, Lord Jesus Christ." The new setting of the Gloria is particularly festive and
includes well-written brass parts for use on major feast days and solemnities.
-B. G.

Permissions: Glory to God music by Calvin M. Bower. All rights reserved, reprinted with permission of the
composer. Psalm 78: The Lord gave them bread from heaven music by Michel Guimont © GIA Publica-
tions, Inc. All rights reserved, reprinted with permission, Onelicense.net #A-715895. Gospel Acclamation
music by A. Gregory Murray, O.S.B. © GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved, reprinted with
permission, Onelicense.net #A-715895. Sanctus et benedictus, Memorial Acclamation, and Great Amen from
Mass for the City. Music by Richard Proulx © GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved, reprinted with
permission, Onelicense.net #A-715895. Lamb of God music by Richard Proulx © GIA Publications, Inc.
All rights reserved, reprinted with permission, Onelicense.net #A-715895. I Am the Bread of Life words and
music by Suzanne Toolan © GIA Publications, Inc. All rights reserved, reprinted with permission,
Onelicense.net #A-715895. All other selections in the public domain.