Reverence at Mass, Especially in the Gym
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
This past week, there were two occasions that hit my “pastor heart,” both on the theme of reverence at Mass, and since we are now in a gym, a less-than-sacred location, for our celebrations of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, it is opportune to offer a reflection on what reverence at the Mass looks like, or at least how to approach it.
First the “occasions”. As I was arriving at the end of the Vigil Mass on Saturday evening to check on the important announcements being made, no fewer than 30 people got up and left. Not only did they not fulfill their Sunday obligation, but it was rude and disrespectful to the ladies inviting the women of the parish to this fall’s Welcome Retreat. Perhaps some had true emergencies to attend to, but my guess is that most had less critical motivations for leaving Mass early. To leave Mass early without grave reason is sinful, because worship of God is a matter of justice. To leave early is to worship something more than God, which is the definition of idolatry.
The second occasion came on Sunday when a friend sent me a short video of a young adult who was raised a Muslim sharing her story about encountering the reverence, the beauty, and the intentionality of Catholic worship. She found herself wanting more…asking questions and finding answers in Jesus Christ who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. She was baptized and is now thriving as a Disciple of the Lord, nourished by the Sacraments and doing the Works of Mercy.
The reverence we show or don’t show to the sacred realities at Mass impacts everyone and everything.
My desire here is not to be prescriptive, but rather to help us to develop a mindset, a worldview as it were, that fosters greater reverence.
St. John Vianney said that if we truly understood the Mass we would die, not of fear, but of love. The problem is that we can become so comfortable with the sacred, so used to the unimaginably holy, that we take it for granted. We treat the sanctuary as a social club, we come to be entertained rather than to worship Almighty God.
Every Mass, from Easter at the Vatican with the Pope to Tuesday morning Mass with Fr. So-and-so at St. Elsewhere’s is our being made present to the Death and Resurrection of the Only Begotten Son of God, Our Lord Jesus Christ. He instructs and feeds us, equipping us for the mission of witnessing to the unconquerable power of His love and grace.
A great guiding question to ponder over as we consider reverence at Mass: how would I act if Jesus invited me to the Last Supper? Would I dare leave early from the intimacy and sacredness of the Last Supper because the game is on, or you have groceries to buy?
What if I were at Calvary with the Blessed Mother and St. John, witnessing first-hand the crucifixion of Jesus Christ? Would I walk away from the Crucified Christ because His death was just taking too long?
How would I act if I were with St. Mary Magdalene at the garden early that morning of the third day, seeing Jesus alive?
Consider those questions, then act that way. Because we are there, at the table, at the cross, at the empty tomb, and Jesus is there, giving Himself Eucharistically and physically, and rising victorious.
Being in the gym these coming weeks can be a great time for us to choose reverence. We don’t have the trappings of our art, the organ, the comfy new kneelers…but it’s the same Jesus, who is worthy of our reverence, love, and devotion.
Praised be Jesus Christ, now and forever!
All you holy saints of God, pray for us!
Peace in Christ,
Fr. Michael Silloway
Pastor