An Invitation with the Expectation of Participation

By RH

     When you are invited to someone’s house for a party, you are expected to be social and be part of the group. While you are there, it would be impolite for you to sit in a corner and sulk. This is an invitation with the expectation of participation.

     When we are at Mass we are expected to participate. If you come to Mass only because someone told you that you have to; and you spend the whole time sitting in the pew sulking, not praying, not singing, not receiving Holy Eucharist - what is the point?

     Mass is the remembrance of the suffering, death and resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. If you believe this with all your heart, how can you not be a participant?

     This is our chance to publicly proclaim that we believe in God the Father, Jesus His Son, and the Holy Spirit; all three who are alive in our world today. God invites us to come together to pray to Him, praise Him and thank Him. He wants us to be there, actively. This is our chance to be fed by the readings from the Old and New Testaments and by the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

     Sitting in church doesn’t make a person a Catholic any more than standing in a garage makes me an auto mechanic. Our faith has to be personal. Jesus gave His body and blood for our sins, and He said “Do this in remembrance of Me!”

     So, when we come to Church for Eucharistic Adoration or for Mass, remember that Jesus extends an invitation with the expectation of participation.