We often encounter people who say, "I don't go to Mass because..."
Dear Pilgrims of Hope,
We often encounter people who say, "I don't go to Mass because_____, I find it______ (fill in the blank), I don't like______, or I am not_______?" Perhaps a couple of thoughts may help with these conversations. The focus seems to be on themselves, as the sentence starts with ‘I’.
How does focusing on you or your experience give the proper worship to God? You are focused on your personal experience. How are you focusing on God? When you come to Mass, the focus should not be on your personal experience; the focus is giving thanks and praise to God and, when in a state of grace, receiving our Lord and Savior in the Eucharist.
When you write a Thank you note, do you focus on your experience while writing it? Do you spend time with loved ones only if it's entertaining? Last week, before the Sacred Mysteries, I focused on the offertory. One of our prayers is "Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God the almighty Father." Yes, we become a sacrifice joined to the Sacrifice of Calvary. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, "In the Eucharist, the sacrifice of Christ also becomes the sacrifice of the members of his Body. The lives of the faithful, their praise, sufferings, prayer, and work unites with those of Christ and his total offering, so they acquire a new value." (CCC 1368)
So you offer yourself to God. So come and offer your time, presence, voice, and thoughts with the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Come to give your time and presence again in praising and thanking God. When you put this method into practice, even if you don't 'feel' like it, it will change your focus from the I .... to focusing on God in worship, giving, and offering of yourself.
Let's remember that Jesus has given us a powerful way to worship and thank God, which we call the Mass. At every Mass, we echo Jesus' words, 'Do this in memory of me. 'This is not just a ritual, but a transformative experience that can inspire and uplift us.
If you have missed a Sunday Mass without a serious reason, (see CCC 2181) know that God's mercy and forgiveness await you in the sacrament of Reconciliation. Confession needs to happen before receiving the Holy Eucharist. Know that God's love and mercy are always available to you!
As a reminder, the regular times for the sacrament of Reconciliation and our current Mass schedule are always available in the Bulletin and on our website. We offer Exposition of the Eucharist on Tuesdays from 7:30 am through 6:15 pm. Take this opportunity to sit with Jesus; it will truly change your life.
Peace,
Father Maassen
