Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr
Where did this man get all this? … Is he not the carpenter? (Mark 6:2, 3)
Though well-intentioned, the people of Nazareth seemed to have missed the new thing God had for them. Jesus had grown up in their village. They knew his parents and extended family. Surely they knew everything about Jesus already—or so they thought. So they dismissed what he was saying and doing, and in the process, they minimized what he could do in their midst. What a sad loss of an opportunity!
The thing is, though, that we, too, can become comfortable in the all too familiar setting of our parish Mass. We know how things are done, so we are tempted not to pay close attention. We can easily go through the motions of worship without engaging our minds and hearts. When this happens, it wouldn’t be surprising if, like the Nazarenes, we lowered our expectations and ended up experiencing less than all God has in store for us.
If you find yourself in a situation like this—let’s call it what it is: a rut—try something different. The next time you go to Mass, pretend that you have brought a guest with you, someone who has never been to church before. Look around with this person’s fresh eyes. What strikes you?
Maybe you notice again how very few people sit in the front row. Maybe you wonder how your friend will know where to find the hymns. What is pictured in that stained-glass window? Why all the standing and kneeling? Questions like these can help you rediscover some treasures you had overlooked earlier.
An exercise like this can also become an occasion for the Spirit to invite you to a deeper faith. Paying close attention to the liturgy and the environment can help make your participation at Mass more conscious, active, and heartfelt. And that means that your encounter with the Lord at Mass will become more powerful and life-changing.
So put yourself in another person’s shoes. See if it helps energize your appreciation of everything that God is doing at Mass. See, also, if it helps you become more actively engaged in worship. You never know how the Lord will work!
“Jesus, thank you for inviting me to come to your house of prayer week after week. Please open my eyes and my heart as I encounter you there.”
2 Samuel 24:2, 9-17; Psalm 32:1-2, 5-7
Daily Marriage Tip for February 5, 2014:
How do you like to be treated when you are ill? Do you want to be left alone or fussed over? What about your spouse? Don’t assume that what you like is what your beloved would like. Ask.