Have you ever been up late at night and seen those infomercials for exercise equipment or jewelry? Have you ever wondered why people buy this stuff? It may be that they have nothing better to spend their money on, but I doubt it!

Usually the people who sell these things to us are so full of life and enthusiasm that it makes us want to buy the product. Well, in the Church, we’re not selling a product, but in a way, we are bringing the love of Jesus to the world. I can’t imagine that Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount in a monotone voice without inflecting any of his words or raising his voice at certain points. If he did, not many people would have listened and believed what he was saying.

This being said: what is it that makes good music better? What makes good preaching better? What can turn a lifeless Liturgy into one that people remember and can more fully enter into? I believe that the word is passion. We need to show others, through our passion, the love of Christ so that there is no question what we believe and who we follow. I have heard songs sung by people who have perfect pitch and beautiful singing voices that have not sung it as well as someone who is praying the song and putting their whole heart into it. It is our job as Christ’s hands and feet in this world to passionately proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that the whole world may be renewed and transformed through Christ who lives within us.