Start the Week off Right!

Start the Week off Right!

Posted by on Jun 2, 2011 in Church, Family, Featured | 6 comments

Over Memorial Day weekend my family and I celebrated this unofficial start to summer by working a booth at our parish festival. Prior to the start of the festival on Sunday, many festival volunteers gathered together under the big tent to celebrate Mass. The sense of community I felt was awesome as I looked around at the numerous people all coming together to praise God.

A friend of mine recently revealed what a lot of us feel, or have felt at one time, about attending Mass. Mass for some people can become redundant and feel like more of a burden, rather than a joyful praising-God event. And that is a reason that many Catholics fall away from Mass attendance or even from the Church itself.

As for me, I love starting my week off by attending Sunday morning Mass.  I believe that the difference in how attractive Mass is for us is all in one’s attitude toward it. Mass isn’t about what you GET out of it; it’s about what you GIVE!

I have taught my children that the MINIMUM we can do for God is to give one hour of our time at Mass to thank him, to acknowledge the gifts he showers upon us, and praise him for his mercy. One hour out of the whole week is not too much to ask for a God who gave up his life for us.

I’ve also taught them that skipping Mass on vacation is not an option. I believe that in some circumstances, Mass-skippers not only break the third commandment, but also the first.

“I am the Lord your God, you shall not have strange gods before me.”

 
If we give up Church for golfing, for shopping, for vacation, or for any other excuse, those excuses are “strange gods” …in my humble opinion. Sadly, some vacation travelers also take a vacation from God. 

As we begin this summer season filled with summertime fun and activities, l hope that we remember our number one priority is to GIVE thanks and praise to God our Father for all that he has blessed us with.

Happy Summer!

 
 

About the Author

Sharon Lape is both the permissions manager and the editorial assistant in the periodicals department at Franciscan Media. She also researches and provides content for the popular Minute Meditations feature. Sharon is a wife and a mother of four children.
 
 
 
  • Greg

    Wow, you didn’t pull any punches, not even a little! But I for one appreciate the “slap upside the head”. I’m thankful God doesn’t take a vacation from us. From me. Of course you are right, what’s an hour of our time( is it really ours?) once a week? Thanks for another challenging post.

  • Judyz

    I like your thoughts about mass on vacations. I’ve always found it very interesting to go to different Catholic churches around the country (or even in other countries) wherever we happen to be. I think my kids actually pay even closer attention when the mass is seen in a new light. It’s also very comforting to know that the mass will remain the same no matter what the language or accent happens to be. Thanks for your thoughts Sharon.

  • Monna

    Very well said my very precious daughter! Mom.

  • Tmk10

    I agree, Sharon.  Many of us have come to think that the Mass is about us and what we do.  But it’s really about God and what He has done and continues to do for us moment by moment.

  • Dwandstrat

    KUTGW,  Keep Up The Good Work Sharon.

  • Sr. Mary

    Great thoughts! Should be sent to every Catholic household!  Thanks for sharing.