Reflection on Attending Mass

Celebration. Unity. Peace. Freedom. Hope. Dignity.

The Mass offers these things to each of us each time we walk into the Cathedral and experience the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. How we encounter God depends on how open we are, what is in our hearts, minds, and souls. The Mass remains the same; it is a time to praise God, a time to petition God, a time to offer thanks to God. The Mass reminds us of God’s love for us and offers us hope. We must always remember the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Within each Mass is a splendor, a moment of intense love and hope which often is missed if we allow worldly cares to cloud our hearts and souls.

The Liturgy of the Word provides lessons on how to live in a manner pleasing to God; it is a celebration of hope, an education in obedience and humility; and a celebration that teaches us, inspires us to evangelize. The Liturgy of the Eucharist provides all Christians lessons in sacrifice and love; it is a celebration of God’s splendor, God’s mystery, God’s mercy; we hear Christ’s words, share this meal with him and allow our hearts and souls to be nourished.

Open your souls, open your hearts. In each Mass allow yourself to listen and to find Christ. Each Mass is a reminder, a memorial to Christ who gives his body, who gives his blood for our life to the world.

Allow each Mass to be a moment of hope. Accept our unworthiness, our need for continual penance for we are all sinners. Do not get swept away in freedom or hope offered by the secular world. It often is an inauthentic freedom offering anxiety, envy, and selfishness. Allow the Mass to baptize your hearts and souls with God’s love, God’s mercy. Do not search for happiness, instead search for humility before God. It is better to learn how to be a humble, loving servant of God than to lost within a never ending pursuit of ever elusive worldly pleasure.

Allow each Mass to call to you; allow your faith to answer the call.

Remember that each Mass is a celebration of Christ who sacrificed his body and blood for the eternal life of the world.

Allow your hearts to understand the solutions presented within the Liturgy of Word; the ideas may be in direct conflict with our society with its technology and commercialism leading us away from acting as compassionate human beings; Listen for the voice of Jesus offering each of us hope, offering each of us love, offering each of us freedom.

We live in a world, subversive, morally ambivalent, violent, and restless. Our society tries to numb us to the unpleasantness, suggesting that this is part of the natural order. Our society encourages us to live in fear of our neighbors. As Catholics allow our eyes to see Christ’s hope and love in ourselves, our families, our friends, our neighbors, and all strangers we meet. Allow your hearts and souls and minds to be alive with Christ, filled with compassion, empathy, humility. Desire only goodness; desire only humility; be only loving to your neighbors, to yourself, and to your God.

Allow Christ’s fairness and social justice to direct your life. Use your life as an instrument to evangelize for the Lord. Remember to offer your weaknesses and inabilities to God. With prayer and contemplation courage and confidence will flourish within you. Always remain united with God; remain united with his son, Jesus; remain united with the Holy Spirit; and remain united with the Church.

The Church offers us the Truth; the Church offers us the Word; the Church offers us what is Real.

We must find what is authentic, what is sincere, what is beneficial to our entire being.

Look to the sacraments for strength, hope. Look to the sacraments for understanding. Look to the sacraments to lead you closer to God.

Allow a moment of silence. Allow a moment of patience.

Let your life be filled with prayer, fasting, almsgiving.

Approach each Mass filled with hope, joy, and love; depart each Mass filled with love, joy, hope.

Each Mass is a time of liberation.