Do you pray or go to Church because it is a rule? Has it become a routine? How can you make your Sunday truly the “Day of the Lord”? - Daily Reflections January 21,2014

Add caption

DO OUR SUNDAYS PLEASE GOD?

 

How do you spend your Sunday? Like the Sabbath of the Jews, our Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest, a day spent in the presence of God, a day of thanksgiving and joy. We are invited to celebrate with all Christians all over the world the foundation of our faith: the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. We do this by participating in the Holy Eucharist, where Christ is not only present but where He even comes into our very being to accompany us through another week of work and worry.

       A confrere, who works as a missionary in Africa, told me that the Sunday Mass there lasts for at least three hours. If it is shorter, the people complain. The homily has to last for at least half an hour, otherwise the people would think the priest is not prepared. They express their faith by singing and dancing. Every Mass is a joyful celebration, as our Mass is supposed to be.

       But here in the Philippines, if the homily exceeds 10 minutes, people complain. If the Mass lasts more than an hour, people complain. They want to get it over with as soon as possible. Many Catholics don’t go to Mass on Sunday anymore or, if at all, come late. Still others do their own private prayers and rush out of the church as soon as the priest has blessed the community.

       Jesus makes us aware in today’s Gospel that religion does not consist of rules, regulations and obligations. No doubt, Sunday observance is important because, as we said, we celebrate on that day the foundation of our faith. But it should never be regarded as an obligation. Jesus makes us aware that religious observances can become ends in themselves and cease to be means of communicating with God.

       Jesus invites us to look into our religious practices, especially how we spend our Sundays and what Sunday Mass means for us. May we learn from our African brethren and express our faith more joyfully and thank the Lord for all He has done, and continues to do, for us. May our Sundays be always free for Him who is always there for us! Fr. Rudy Horst, SVD

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Do you pray or go to Church because it is a rule? Has it become a routine? How can you make your Sunday truly the “Day of the Lord”?

 

Lord, the routine of everyday life has also affected my religious practices, especially my Sundays. Give me the grace to be wholeheartedly with You as with a friend.