Choirs of Compassion
by Fr. Keith Branson, c.pp.s., Avila University Chaplain
Imagining a new creation will call us to see our
community and mission in a new way. There are many
images we can use to help us envision the new cre-
ation, and the one I believe is the most helpful is one
from my other profession: a choir. Let me unpack this.
Historically, the warrior image is used for the
Church and its members, and this is understandable,
particularly given the history of the Middle Ages and
the Crusades. It is true that we are called to a soldier’s
discipline: to endure hardship, to trust leadership
completely, and obey orders without question in
times of emergency. I do not think this is a helpful
metaphor, and it ultimately destroys the Gospel. How
do we force others to live lives of hope and compas-
sion? How do we make others see Truth by chaining
them to it unwillingly? In our time we have seen the
cost of prolonged war too well, with ptsd and family
disruptions, and it has almost become impossible to
persuade anyone of anything given the verbal war
that rules our communications.
In a choir, there are many voices coming together
to make music. They are all different, with unique
strengths and weaknesses, different ranges and tim-
bres, different levels of volume. Each singer has differ-
ent gifts, different experiences, different stories, which
adds to the uniqueness of their contribution.
There are generally four parts to a choir: soprano,
alto, tenor, bass. There can be more or less; at times a
section is asked to divide, perhaps all four. Yet there
are times they all sing the same line in unison, or two,
or three parts. Every part has its role, every part carries
the melody from time to time, every part sings accom-
paniment. Every part rests from time to time, some-
time for an entire movement.
But each part has its dignity, each part is essential
in making music. At times, there is a counterpoint
where each part has a tune that contrasts with the
other parts, when together they create something im-
possible for a solo singer.
have been there a long time. Some will work hard
every day practicing to improve themselves and con-
tribute more to the choir, others will only sing when
the group is together (this is the reality, although every
choir director wants their choir members to practice
on their own). There are professionals with the choir:
the conductor, the accompanist, at times section lead-
ers are paid. They contribute to the sound and help
organize it, but they are not the choir, they don’t make
music by themselves.
Truth truly needs no defenders; it remains in spite
of any attack and can never be undone by force of lies
and deception. Truth endures everything. We do not
build a community of truth and justice by conquest,
but by conversion. Ancient Christianity did not con-
quer the Roman Empire, it converted it. They brought
the empire into their great song of God’s creation.
All put aside their own temptation to dominate the
sound for the sake of the whole, for the sake of the
music. Even though there are solos from time to time,
the purpose is not to show off the individual, but pro-
vide something unique that takes the music to a higher
level. Once a solo is done, they return to the section,
become an equal part of the choir again.
To say we are a choir of compassion is a better
metaphor I wish to offer. It requires discipline and
work, patience and perception, an ability to listen
deeply and blend our voices with others to create
something we could not create on our own. We are
called to live lives in harmony with each other, and
the harmony we are living is God’s harmony. The
music we offer is for to heal of the world, to open a
greater reality that calls all of us to be part of it, The
Song of Christ’s Blood is the song we sing: Christ is
our conductor who guides us in our musical journey,
and our song is the restoration of Eden, the comple-
tion of God’s perfect harmony of the universe.
Different levels of commitment are also in the
choir. There are those new to the choir, and those who
September 2018 • The New Wine Press • 3