At the end of the Gospel, after Jesus flogged the moneychangers out of the temple, there’s a comment: “Jesus … did not need anyone to testify about human nature. He himself understood it well.”

It’s almost a throwaway remark, after the vivid description of his actions with the moneychangers. But nevertheless, the human nature that Jesus understood so well can trip us up!

For instance, some of us take Jesus’ actions as a cue to impose our beliefs on everyone else.

But Jesus was God, and we’re not. It’s human to think we have all the right answers. We don’t. We live in a pluralistic society, which is a good thing. We learn to respect the rights of others to disagree with us to live as their consciences demand.

Notice how, in the parish or any kind of ministry, those who claim to have all the right answers all the time tend to be dismissed or ignored. The lived experience of others says quietly, “I don’t think so,” and moves on.

Music ministry is no different.

A director (or even a pastor) who doesn’t listen to the experience of the members will eventually be ignored and isolated. Working towards consensus is almost always more effective than top-down edicts.

The nineteenth-century commentator Alexis de Toqueville said, “The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults.” Even in the microcosm of music ministry, it’s never to late to stop talking and begin listening as well. Only then can we repair our faults.