When we celebrate the Sacred Liturgy we are joining in the
celebration that is occurring in eternity.
We participate in that celebration at a particular moment in time. There are one hundred and sixty-eight hours
in a week. With a few exceptions, the
Lord only requires us to devote one hour each week to worship. Only one hour out of the one hundred and sixty-eight
hours in a week is required; it is far less than one percent.
I want to speak to you today about the time that we give for
the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The moment in time when the celebration of
Mass begins is not a surprise. We have a
schedule, and it does not change very often.
To be present at the beginning of the Mass means that you are in the
Church and in place to worship before the priest and the ministers of the altar
enter the Church. If you arrive after
that moment, you are late. Arriving late
for Mass on a rare occasion can occur for any number of unforeseen
circumstances. Consistently arriving
late for the celebration of the Mass, however, is a choice. And that choice demonstrates a number of
things. Consistently arriving late for
Mass demonstrates a lack of love for the Lord.
It demonstrates a lack of respect for the people of God, and a lack of
respect for the priest. Our actions are
a demonstration of our values. If a
person arrives early for a soccer game, and late for the celebration of the
Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, then that person has demonstrated what he believes
to be truly important in this life.
To leave Mass early, which means to leave the Church before
the priest leaves, is also a choice.
After the distribution of Holy Communion, there is the prayer after
Communion, through which we give thanks to God, a few announcements for the
good of the parish, and the blessing and dismissal. When a person leaves after receiving Holy
Communion, then that person fails to give thanks to God for so great a
gift. The person who leaves early
rejects the blessing of God that will be given at the end of the Mass. It is not simply a lack of presence to God,
but a choice to reject God and his blessing.
It will only cost a person a few extra minutes of doing
something that is far less important, to be present for the entire celebration
of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. That
is far less of a cost than the cost paid by the Lord Jesus to be present at the
celebration of the Eucharist.
Presented at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic
Church, Monroe, NC
