Epiphany – Why are we here?
The Epiphany of the Lord Lectionary: 20
Why are we here, and what are we looking for?
I don’t mean this as a big question. I am not asking about the meaning of life. I am not asking what life choices brought us to this point. I am simply asking: why are we here, today, in this room?
This can be a surprisingly difficult question. Is it only a habit? Are we here because we will feel guilty if we are not here? Are we here to see people, or to be seen by people? Our obligation to attend Sunday Mass is dispensed by our bishop due to the ongoing pandemic. And yet, we are here. Why?
Some Catholics do not come to church, even when the obligation is in effect, and they are not legitimately hindered. They know, or should know, that this is a serious sin, but they choose not to come. When we ask them why they do not come to mass anymore, it helps us understand what they were expecting when they used to come. Often, they say “I don’t get anything out of it.” Or, “I was not being fed.” Or, “the music is bad.” Or, “I can’t understand them.” Or, “the homily is too long, too short, too boring, too complicated, or too simple.”
These responses all point to the same problem. Sometimes, we come to the Sunday liturgy for the wrong reasons, and with the wrong expectations.
When we come with an attitude of looking for something for ourselves we are playing the part of Herod in today’s Gospel. Herod sought the child with the intention of using the child. None of us have any thoughts of doing Jesus harm, but we are still like Herod if we are coming to mass to get something, or to experience something. We are using the mass for ourselves, and for our benefit.
It is good to come to mass, no matter what our reason, but coming to get something for ourselves is not the best reason.
The magi came for exactly the right reason. They did not come to get anything. They made the long journey to the Holy Land so they could worship and offer sacrifice to the child born king and messiah.
We are here. That is good. Why are we here? Are we here to worship Jesus Christ? If so, God is pleased.
Sometimes, our mass is not very fun or entertaining. Sometimes the preacher can’t speak clearly, or talks too long. Sometimes the music ministers have to use recordings. Sometimes our liturgy is messy. Sometimes the children are noisy, or the elders are grumpy.
If you are looking for good preaching and good music and a beautiful liturgy, go somewhere else. If you are looking for Jesus Christ, you’re at the right place.
Dcn LeRoy Behnke
I invite you to three tasks during this one week of Epiphany.
First, examine your heart. Why are you here? Consider the magi, who came with pure hearts to worship. Jesus said blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Ask God to make your heart pure.
Second, pray for more priests, and for good and holy priests. Pray for men around the world and in your town and your family to hear the call to the priesthood. Pray, even, for yourself, that if God is calling you to the priesthood, that your ears will be open to hear that call.
Finally, please invite someone to join us the next time we meet to worship. Not for the good music or the nice people, or to get anything for ourselves, but because our savior is here, and we want to be with him, and worship him. Of course, if they are sick, they should stay home, but if they are well, invite them to join our worship.
The Jesus we seek is also seeking us. He emptied himself and humiliated his divine self to become a human being. Not just a human being, but even an embryo. He lived humbly, and died horribly. Ascending to heaven, he humiliates himself even more by taking on the physical form of bread and wine to be consumed by sinful humans.
This is why we should love the mass so much.
“The humility of Jesus: in Bethlehem, in Nazareth, on Calvary. But more humiliation and more self-abasement still in the Sacred Host: more than in the stable, more than in Nazareth, more than on the Cross. That is why I must love the Mass so much” (‘Our’ Mass, Jesus…)
Saint Josemaría Escrivá
Christ is present here. This is enough, and everything. Come, let us worship. Let us adore.
