THIRD SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (C)

When the choir leads the Responsorial Psalm on the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time (Year C), this setting of Psalm 19 brings a gentle, flowing reverence to the Liturgy of the Word. Valentine Onyejegbu’s composition centers on the profound truth that God’s decrees are not just rules, but "spirit and life."

The refrain is simple and meditative, allowing the congregation to easily join in the response. In the choir loft, the verses offer a beautiful opportunity for a solo voice to lead, carrying the psalmist’s deep reflections on the perfection of the Lord's law. The text moves from praising the law that "revives the soul" and "gives light to the eyes," to a deeply personal prayer asking that the spoken words of our mouths and the thoughts of our hearts win favor in God's sight.

It is a piece that feels both majestic and intimate. As the soloist weaves through the verses and the full choir returns for the harmonized refrain, the music perfectly captures the joy and clarity that come from walking in the light of God's commandments.