Encounter

This weekend during Mass, there was a comment made that I found to be a little unsettling.  The remark was “since we have a baptism, my words on today’s Gospel will be brief.  The liturgy is long enough.  It’s a beautiful day outside and we’d hate to spoil it in church” or something along those lines.  I’m sure the comment was not meant to sound as it did, but it lingered in the back of my mind for the rest of the Mass.  I think a lot of people have the mindset that Mass is just something to do, but only if it fits into their schedule.  Jesus gets His one-hour time slot during the weekend and it better not run over because we need to get on with our day and there are other places to be and things to do, and the weather is so nice.  How many people show up at Mass only to check it off their list for the week?  How many people show up because it’s what they’ve done for as long as they can remember?  How many people show up just so it looks good?  Participating in the Mass and spending time in the presence of Christ could never spoil the day.  In fact, there is nothing more important that we can do.  Reflecting on this brings me to the thought that there are probably people sitting in the pews (and at home) who have never had an encounter with Jesus Christ.  I believe that if we truly knew Jesus and had a relationship with Him, we would approach the Mass and our faith in a totally different way.

The first time I really remember hearing people talk about having a personal relationship with Jesus, I was in high school.  There are two people in particular who stand out.  They were on fire and had a deep passion for sharing Jesus and the Catholic faith with others.  It was also in high school that I encountered Christ in a profound way for the first time.  This was a turning point.  Entering into a relationship with Jesus is a game-changer and ultimately what gives life meaning.  It is what makes us want to go to Mass and grow deeper in our faith.

I worry that, for many, faith is just a routine.  Minds are filled with facts, information, and rules, rather than hearts opened and filled with the love of Christ.  It becomes a checklist or just an extracurricular activity for when we have time.  Learning about our faith and teaching others that knowledge is essential.  However, if we don’t come to know Jesus in a personal way, then I think we have forgotten what it is all about.  If we do not have a relationship with Christ, we cannot fully enter into the community we are called to and it will be more difficult to fully enter into the Mass.  There are so many opportunities to encounter Jesus and so many different ways to begin to develop a relationship with Him.  We need to continue to seek out scripture, the sacraments, community, and other opportunities for an encounter, and invite others to come with us along the way.

I believe that once you encounter Christ, your life can never be the same.  Whenever we have those encounters, we will be inspired to share with others and witness to how we have been impacted.  My prayer is that we would never spend time with God and think that it’s “long enough” or that our day could be “spoiled.”  Take time to pray that everyone would be able to experience Christ in a profound way.

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