Musings of a Catholic Convert

I don't understand why people are in such a hurry to get out of Mass on Sunday.  If your time is so valuable that you can't wait until the Recessional is over before you have to run out of the Church, why are you even coming to Mass?  What is another 5 minutes?  Do you love Jesus so little that you have to flee his Church immediately after communion?  Do you think that the communion you profess and receive is real?  I really don't understand.

I have never been able to understand how people can care so little about their relationship with the Lord, begrudgingly giving Him an hour on Sunday and somehow thinking they are doing Him a favor.  But heaven forbid the service last more than 60 minutes, because then the keys start rattling, you're gathering your things and ready to bolt for the door.  Really?  C'mon.  And you're not even leaving quietly, you're talking on the way out too.  Good grief, people.  Learn to at least respect the house of worship enough to keep your early leaving yap shut until you are outside.  At least pretend to care that this is Church.  

Think I'm being judgemental?  Think I'm being harsh?  I saw this same garbage when I was a Protestant pastor and I still see it at Mass.  And we as Catholics are supposed to be a sacramental people - a liturgical people - and I see this sort of behavior from people who should know better.  I bet nobody taught you to leave Mass early.  You probably learned it from someone else's bad example, just like all those people who are so adamant about holding hands during the Our Father.  Why also are so many people adamant about something that is not even a part of the liturgy (holding hands during  the Our Father) and yet do not even attempt to participate in the parts of the liturgy that are spelled out (making a profound bow during the words of the Incarnation, crossing yourself, etc.).  You have no excuse.

All the prescribed gestures play a role in putting our whole being in the pathway of God's free grace.  In other words, participation in the Mass disposes us to receive the grace He offers through it.  So why take it lightly?  Please don't.  Please give Him that hour of Mass with your whole heart, mind, soul, strength, participation, emotion, attention, and anything else you have.  And don't stop there.  Spend some time during the week praying, reading the Bible.  Did you know that the Church has ways for you to grow in your faith 7 days a week?  Give it a try.  You might find that you like it.