I have a confession to make… I didn’t go to Mass this week. You see, I had to go out of town on business and didn’t get back until mid-afternoon on Sunday. I could’ve made the evening Mass but I was just so sleepy and engrossed in a movie (which ironically was Constantine, which if you know is about a guy who fights demons and is all about the devil and the battles between good and evil.)
I knew I was wrong to not go. But I ignored that little whispering inside of me that longed to be in a community… where I should… praising God. I’ve heard a number of great Catholic speakers and authors talk about the great gift that the Mass is. If we only knew what it was that Jesus offered us every week (every day!) we’d never miss it. Scott Hahn even explains how the Mass is Heaven on Earth.
I’m in my 20’s. I live on my own (well, with a roommate) and we both are practicing Catholics. But every so often I just don’t feel like going to church. It’s normal. But that doesn’t make it ok. I’m not going to into a fit of self-pity and wallowing in my own sorrow. However, I do realize the reality of what I have missed out of. I also realize that I am probably due for another Confession.
I think I just need to make a habit of really remembering why I go to Mass. What really is before me. The beautiful gift of Christ’s Passion, Death and Resurrection… Eternity and the Present all wrapped up into one liturgy. Maybe I’m talking gibberish to you right now. But think about the words:
Take this, all of you, and eat it: this is my body which will be given up for you.
Take this, all of you, and drink from it: this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me.
If you think about it – if the Eucharist is the continuation of the Last Supper.. of Jesus’ love for his people and an offering of Himself to his disciples…. Every week he dies and rises again in each of us. He dies because we consume his Body and Blood in the act of Communion. His body is crushed and broken as we chew and digest the bread and wine (that’s been unsubstantiated.) And it gives our body nourishment and life. We literally become His Body. And if His Body has ascended into Heaven then we are already part of heaven here on earth.
Ok, I’m not a theologian. So I might be way off in my thoughts and observations. What I do know is that the Mass is the culmination of our faith. It is Jesus’ ultimate gift of Himself to us. It’s important.
But then again the beauty of God – You can always come back. So I messed up and missed out on a beautiful, wonderful and mysterious gift this past week. But I know that I am always welcome that the Lord’s Table.
Come back to me with all your heart!
Repent and sin no more!
By Reader