When I was a kid, I’d sometimes go to Mass with my best friend after a Saturday night sleepover.
As a side note: I wasn’t Catholic then and the Catholic Church my friend went to in our hometown was burned down by arson in 1996. From what my young mind can remember, it was a old church, small, but intensely mysterious to me. A new larger church was built across the river and that is the parish my family attends when I’m back home in Kansas—Sacred Heart. Funny how life turns out, isn’t it?
Anyway, on the rare occasions that I would go with her, I thought Catholics just stood, knelt, and sat at random times. It felt like we were always moving. I’d watch all the Catholics come in and cross themselves, then kneel before entering the pew, then stand when the priest came in, sit, stand, kneel, walk up for Communion, kneel, stand. I couldn’t keep up!
Of course, I had no clue what the significance of it all meant, but I remember thinking, “Man, these Catholics like to move around all the time.”
I was thinking about my experience as a kid yesterday at Mass. I know now all the reasons that we “move” so much during Mass and all the movements are very purposeful.
Then I thought about how the Mass is very active; we don’t just sit and absorb passively. We aren’t supposed to let the staff do it all and we just sit back and enjoy. We are active participants. Why? Because our Faith life must be active, never passive.
My favorite NT non-Gospel book is James and he tells us “Be doers of the Word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.” James 1:22
Our Faith must be active; the Mass is active. You will get more out of your relationship with God, Catholic Pilgrims, when you actively participate.
Have a blessed Monday.
