Worship

02-25-2024Pastor's CornerVery Rev. Robert J. Deehan, VF

Let’s say you were at your own birthday party. All the guests were gathered and the traditional song, Happy Birthday to You, was started, but only a few people bothered to sing! How would you feel? Besides being disappointed, you’d wonder whether they really wanted to be there. The guests who did sing along would feel a bit awkward as the celebratory spirit of that song had some of the “air” taken out of it. I’ve noticed that the same thing happens at Mass here at Holy Family.

I find it disheartening and I can only imagine that for those who do bother to respond/sing at Mass, they feel the same. Our guest of honor is God, Himself. This communal prayer is meant to involve our minds, bodies, hearts, souls and voices. Yet, the weak spoken responses and spotty participation in the singing belie a less than fully engaged community in our Sunday worship. I suspect one reason that might be is that most of us are used to being entertained in one form or another. We sit and listen and watch. However, Mass is different.

I thought I’d address this matter in a special way now, while we’re early in the season of Lent. This is the season when we hear the Lord calling us to conversion, to change and improve - as individuals and as a community. And, this example points to a particular area for growth many members of our parish community – maybe you – need to improve upon. Being engaged in the prayer of our Mass is how we worship God “in spirit and in truth.” Merely showing up is not real worship. Making a concerted effort to worship God in this way will bring you many blessings. And, you will be a source of blessing for others in the congregation who will be inspired by your good example. Our children will learn what is expected. Returning church-goers and new-comers will be encouraged to join us again every Sunday.

Wholehearted, spirited singing and robust responses will truly honor our God, as it should. If there is going to be any spiritual renewal in our worship, it will require the committed and fervent participation on the part of every member of our congregation. Will you take me up on this challenge? What a difference it will make when all those at Mass fullthroatedly respond in a way that conveys they really mean what they were saying and singing!

God bless you!

Fr. Bob