Today’s Second Reading, from the letter of James, pretty much says it all:

   Beloved: Where jealousy and selfish ambition exists
there is disorder and every kind of foul practice.

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits.

It’s interesting to compare different translations of the passage from James. The New Revised Standard Version has “wickedness” instead of the lectionary’s “foul practice.” Instead of the lectionary’s “compliant,” the NRSV has “willing to yield.”

No group can exist in real harmony unless its members are willing to yield. This definitely applies to music ministry! Singers, instrumentalists, directors—you name it—can all get sidetracked by ego, which adversely affects the entire group’s ministry. It happens all the time: the cantor who views every solo as her personal fiefdom; the accompanist who considers a piece beneath her skills and doesn’t bother to rehearse it; the drummer who needs to play on everything; the director who lets little problems slide and wonders why they turn into big ones.

People join the music ministry for different reasons: the glory of God, fellowship, love of music, sharing their gifts with the community. But in the end, it’s all about the greater good. 

If I claim every solo, no one else has the chance to improve and better serve the community. If I don’t practice, I’m setting a bad example and shortchanging those who are giving their best. If I don’t understand that sometimes less is more, I may need the director to explain it to me—again. If I ignore little problems, it’s my fault when things get out of hand.

Each one of us needs to look critically at what we’re doing and ask, “Is this about good fruits? Or just about me?” True wisdom is in the honest answer.