Free to Have Faith

Before the opening ceremony of the 2022 Olympics, some political commentators were discussing everything going on in China including, but not limited to, the abuse, human rights violations, and torment kids experience at boarding schools.  If anything, it was a reminder of how good we have it here in the United States.  Sure, our county has its problems and there are areas that could use improvement, but we are truly blessed.  This is especially true when it comes to our faith.  Catholics in various other countries around the world are literally risking their lives to attend mass and practice their faith while we have all the freedom to do so, yet so many often choose not to.

What are the excuses?  “It’s boring or too long.  I don’t get anything out of it.  My kid has a (insert sport) game/practice.  I can’t understand the priest.  We’re going on vacation.  I can pray at home.  I just don’t feel like going.”  This non-exhaustive list covers just a few of the many excuses we often hear when it comes to mass attendance.  And to be honest, it is quite embarrassing.  People in certain parts of the world are putting God above everything else, risking their lives and here we have people whining and complaining that sitting in church for one hour a week is just too long.

I think what it really comes down to is our understanding of the mass and how we prioritize everything in our lives.  Something that came up in conversation at my Bible study last week is how it seems like when our parents and grandparents were growing up, mass was a priority.  Churches were full and going to mass was an expected part of the weekend.  While I wasn’t alive then, it just seems like faith had a much larger role in people’s lives.  What changed?  

​If people knew that they could encounter Jesus Christ Himself in the Eucharist, maybe more Catholics would attend mass.  If people understood the need to worship God in praise and thanksgiving, maybe more Catholics would attend mass.  If people recognized the graces and fruits that come from mass, maybe more Catholics would attend mass.  People in certain countries realize and see the value of the mass so much that they do whatever they can to get there; whether that means traveling far distances or risking the possibility of violence and extreme persecution.

We can give thanks to God that we do not have to put our lives in danger to attend mass at our parishes.  This is a real blessing that we must not take for granted.  While we cannot force anyone to see the value of the Mass or make anyone change their beliefs, we can be witnesses and share about why the Mass is important to us and how it impacts our daily lives.  Let us pray that all Catholics would experience deeper faith and be filled with a greater desire to go to mass.