"I can't stand Fr. Monotone. I just don't get anything out of his Mass."

Ever heard that one before? Or how about this...

"We drive 20 miles to go to mass at Our Lady of the Worthless Miracle because we don't get anything out of the Mass at our local church."

Am I the only one offended by these types of statements?

<sigh>

If you immediately thought, "At least they're going to Mass somewhere," then make that a <heavy sigh>.

Okay. If you're not with me on this one, let me explain why I get so discouraged by remarks like these...

First of all, Mass has never, ever, ever been about what's in it for ME. Mass is a time for us to come together as a community -- the Body of Christ -- and THANK GOD for all that He has given us. And it's the LEAST we can do to thank Him.

To hear a good homily is not the REASON we attend Mass -- it's just a BONUS.

Second, the homily is NOT a sacrament -- but there is a sacrament at every Mass, right? If I go to Mass and receive the Eucharist, there is absolutely NO WAY to claim that I "didn't get anything out of it".

Have we minimized the Sacrament of the Eucharist to the point where it means less to us than a ten-minute oration by a priest or deacon? Shame on us if we have!

The homily is NOT the Mass. It's not the main element of the Mass. It's not even a sacrament. So why do we give it so much weight?

A miracle takes place each and every time that bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ. Please please please don't forget that. In fact, perhaps we should all pray and reflect on that for the next few weeks.

Mass is about us thanking God.
Is asking "what's in it for me" any way to say thanks?

Peace,
Brandon