One of my favorite memories as a kid was going to Wildwood, NJ, with my brothers and parents. We’d have a great time swimming in the pool and the ocean and walking the boardwalk at night. I still remember the excitement and emotions I felt about being there and wish I could get them back. I can’t.
Emotions are feelings that we don’t easily forget. Can you imagine being present at Jesus’ Passion, Death and Resurrection, and the emotions that’d bring about? Imagine the sickness, the helplessness and the agony of those followers of Jesus who watched Him suffer and die. Imagine the abandonment and deep sorrow that Mary felt as she held her dead son in her arms. And imagine Mary Magdalene’s surprise and joy at seeing Her Lord risen, but confusing Him for the gardener!
We were not there. But we are lucky enough as Catholics to have the Mass. The Mass brings that event – 1,987 years ago – to us today. The Mass IS the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus. Even more, it makes present the very Body and Blood of Our Lord, so that His life becomes our life!
This week, we continue to focus on our Parish Vision Statement, by examining the WORSHIP component. As a reminder, the vision statement is: SAINT JOSEPH CATHOLIC CHURCH IS A GROWING COMMUNITY OF FAITH THAT WELCOMES PEOPLE TO THE LIVING PRESENCE OF JESUS CHRIST. AS DISCIPLES SENT TO TRANSFORM THE WORLD, WE COMMIT TO WORSHIP, GROW, SERVE, CONNECT, AND GIVE.
Therefore, we promise that Saint Joseph Parish…
· provides uplifting liturgies that speak to your heart and are relevant to your life.
· is a place to experience transformation, in order to become the person God created you to be.
As parishioners, we promise to…
· gather for Mass every weekend and Holy Day of Obligation. We bring with us our joys and struggles, are given food for the journey, and are empowered by the Holy Spirit to grow in love for God and one another.
We often hear – or even think ourselves -- that the Mass is boring, and that it doesn’t have an impact on our life. But Mass is not simply a collection of phrases we hear over and over again. It brings us to the foot of the Cross and allows us to walk with the crying Mary, the fearful Peter or the joyful Mary Magdalene. Their emotions must be mixed with our similar emotions.
We must bring them to the Altar at every Mass. If we include our highs and lows, our fears of Coronavirus or the next paycheck, or our joyful thanksgiving for a raise or a family accomplishment, then we too can feel a true impact. Remember, in the Mass, the priest says, “Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God the Almighty Father.” We must bring what we have to the Altar, not just the priest’s prayers. We are not bystanders; we are included in the Sacrifice.
That is why so many ministries work so hard to make Sunday Mass feel so special. The greeters, ushers, music ministry, servers…they all work so that you feel as though you can be real with Jesus, and He can be real with you. The Mass is not a place to put on a fake front. It is a place of reality, where joys and sorrows are brought to a God who knows how you feel, because His Son felt them all.
We come together every Sunday as a Body of Christ to walk with Jesus during His Passion, Death and Resurrection. Without you, we are not the complete Body of Christ. Your presence is that important! And if we don’t bring our wholehearted participation with our joys and struggles, it will feel empty and meaningless.
Let’s be present on Sundays, and walk this road together, so that one day, we’ll all experience the Resurrection together in heaven.