Two songs leapt immediately to my mind when we look at the Sunday readings. One is a little obscure, but absolutely on point: “Said Judas to Mary,” by Sidney Carter, the English poet, songwriter and folk musician who wrote the lyrics to “Lord of the Dance,” for the Shaker hymn tune, “Simple Gifts.” You can google “Said Judas to Mary” or find it on YouTube. It appears in GIA’s Worship, Third Edition, and OCP has a downloadable octavo arranged by Tom Kendzia.

Said Judas to Mary, "Now what will you do
with your ointment so rich and so rare?"

  "I'll pour it all over the feet of the Lord
and I'll wipe it away with my hair," she said,

  "wipe it away with my hair."

It makes an easy unison anthem: just vary men’s and women’s voices on the verses. Since the last line of each verse is repeated, the assembly can easily be brought in.

The other song is Dan Schutte’s “As I Have Done for You,” which has become a Holy Thursday standard for the washing of the feet. I’d use verses 1, 4 and 6. Linking a Holy Thursday song with Mary’s stunning example of service in Luke’s Gospel is a good example of how a song can be on point for more than one reading or liturgy.

Some days they just jump up at you. Because of that, it’s not a bad idea to keep a tickler file of scripture citations with your own (and your assembly’s) must-have choices for particular readings. (And if you’re going to be retiring within a few years, what a thoughtful gift for your successor!)

M.D. Ridge