Exclusive | Melody Marks Summer School

The assignment shifted: they were to finish the lullaby. Melody's hand hovered over the piano keys like a cartographer tracing the coastline of a map that belonged to someone else. Each of the students added their note—Asha's starlight arpeggios, Luis's grainy film static translated into rhythm, June's lost page reshaped as a bridge, Theo's steady compass-beat, Mara's citrus bright trills. Melody's contribution braided them all together: a patient heartbeat that steadied the rest.

Their teacher introduced herself as Ms. Harker, a woman with silver hair pulled into a stern bun and eyes that softened when she smiled. "This isn't ordinary summer school," she told them. "It's exclusive because we're looking for something. And you—" She paused, scanning their faces—"—you each have a note to play." melody marks summer school exclusive

On the last night, with the lullaby nearly complete, they performed in the main hall. The notes rose and folded like a conversation. The conservatory swelled, responding in creaks and sighs that matched their cadence. And then, as the final chord hung in the air, a door they had never seen cracked open on the balcony. An old man stood there, leaning on a cane, his face thin and familiar in the moonlight. The assignment shifted: they were to finish the lullaby

Years later, Melody would tell a quieter version of that summer, one without the card or the gold ink—just the truth she had learned between the notes: that listening could be an act of repair, and that sometimes the most exclusive thing in the world is a room willing to be heard. Melody's contribution braided them all together: a patient

Bibliography:

Old Believer Sermon for the 25th Sunday after Pentecost (unpublished)

“Drops From the Living Water”, Bishop Augustinos

“The One Thing Needful”, Archbishop Andrei of Novo-Diveevo – Pp. 146-148

“Commentary on the Gospel of St. Luke”, St. Cyril, Patriarch of Alexandria, Pp. 287-290

“The Parable of the Good Samaritan”, Parish life, Fr Victor Potapov. Also available at http://www.stohndc.org/parables

[1] This homily was transcribed from one given On November 11, 1996 according to the church calendar (11/24 ns), being the Twenty Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, and the day appointed for the commemoration Holy Martyrs Menas of Egypt, Victor and Stephanida at Damascus and Vincent of Spain The Epistle reading appointed is Ephesians Eph 4:1-6, and the Gospel is Luke 10:25-37. There are some stylistic changes and minor corrections made and several footnotes have been added, but otherwise, it is essentially in a colloquial, “spoken” style. It is hoped that something in these words will help and edify the reader, but a sermon read from a page cannot enlighten a soul as much as attendance and reverent worship at the Vigil service, which prepares the soul for the Holy Liturgy, and the hearing of the scriptures and the preaching of them in the context of the Holy Divine Liturgy. In such circumstances the soul is enlightened much more than when words are read on a page.

[2] Luke 8:41-56 (read on the 24^th Sunday after Pentecost)

[3] Luke 10:25

[4] Luke 11:42

[5] The Reading appointed for Martyr Menas and the other martyrs is Matthew 10:32-33,37-38,19:27-30. At the end of the reading, Christ says: “Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.” (Matthew 19:28-29).

[6] The story of the Rich man and Lazarus is in Luke 16:19-31, and is read on the 16^th Sunday after Pentecost. The rich man, in hell, wanting to save his brothers, has the following discussion with the Holy Prophet Abraham: “I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” (Luke 19:27-31)

[7] Luke 10:26-27 (cf. Duet 6:5: “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.”

[8] Mark 12:31

[9] John 13:34-35

[10] Luke 10:28

[11] Cf. Matthew 18:22. This expression, “seventy times seven” is an indication of an infinite number.

[12] Luke 10:29

[13] Luke 10:30

[14] Psalm 48:1-2

[15] Luke 10:31-32

[16] Luke 10:33

[17] Luke 10:34

[18] The Gospel for the 24^th Sunday after Pentecost, read the preceding week, is Luke 8:41-56. It tells the story of the healing of the woman with an issue of blood, and the raising of Jairus’ daughter.

[19] John 14:2-3

[20] John 15:14-17

[21] Matthew 11:29-30

[22] Matthew 7:13-14

[23] Matthew 7:21

[24] Matthew 10:32-33

[25] Luke 10:35

[26] Cf. 1 Cor. 3:6 “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.”

[27] Cf. Mark 9:41 “For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.”