WHAT’S THE USE
OF GOING TO MASS ? *** You could be right! But maybe part of the problem is that our whole spiritual life is ‘boring’… I don’t blame you. I agree that Mass is too often a lukewarm prayer, sometimes even cold. At times, it can be monotonous, with its symbols understood only by the initiated, homilies that have nothing to do with everyday life, with tedious or even non-existent hymns. Not always; not everywhere; but let’s agree that it does happen. It is unfortunate, especially in these modern times where television shows are produced with such flair by the media and other experts in communications and marketing. Yet the Mass, even with the best modifications, can never compete with the sophisticated audio-visual world of secular entertainment. Above all else, the Mass connects with the depths of our souls, not only our emotions. The world of our souls is not the world of our human senses. This does not mean that nothing can be done to make things better, that the presentation and participation in the Eucharistic prayer must always remain lifeless and dull. There is always room for improvement in areas such as welcoming, community participation, liturgy, hymns, dialogue and preaching. But the Mass, “source and summit of our Christian life”, remains the Mass, an indescribable mystery. It can never be understood without faith. Is it possible for such faith to grow in someone who is a reluctant participant in the Mass? Can faith rekindle itself in someone who does not go to Mass for various excuses? Let’s wake up our dormant faith! It is Christ himself who instituted the Mass (Lk 22: 19-20). Since the beginning, it has been the heart of the life of the Church. Let’s remember that the Mass is the Holy Sacrifice of Jesus, offered unceasingly to God, his Father, for our salvation. Through the Mass, the sacrifice of the cross is present and active. It is also the Supper of our Lord, a banquet of life which unites us to the divinity of Christ, by his Body and his Blood. The Mass is our greatest Christian prayer. It is the prayer of Jesus, with Jesus, in union with the whole Church, the Mystical Body of Christ. Mass nourishes us with the Bread of the Word and the Bread of Life. The Mass gives us hope in eternal life. The Mass is of such great importance that the Church obliges us to participate. “Sunday Mass is to be attended as well as specified feast days”. Our first duty as Christians is to praise God. No tribute pleases him more than the offering of his Son with whom we unite ourselves. Is it too much to give God one hour per week for the Mass, the Eucharist, also known as the Breaking of Bread (Ac 2: 42)? Especially on that day chosen by God – Sunday - the Lord’s Day! No personal prayer, no matter how beautiful, can equal the grandeur of the liturgical prayer of the Mass! Private prayer, whether individual or in community, may please us more, even create enthusiasm and enthrall us. But never can any such prayer have the infinite merit of the Mass! This is true even if the Mass is celebrated without music, presided over by some poor priest lacking the gift of eloquence! To understand this, we must refresh our faith. Gold remains gold, even though it may be covered with dust and dirt. |