Thursday of the
Third Week in Ordinary Time
(Hebrews 10:19-25; Mark 4:21-25)
For quite a while, Catholics in the United States have maintained
a consistent Sunday mass attendance.
More or less twenty-three percent honor the Sunday obligation. “What’s so good about that?” some might ask. Actually, it is not an impressive
record. But non-attendance is nothing
new in the history of the Church as the first reading today attests.
The Letter to the Hebrews underlines a fault in the
customs of the people. It tells its
readers, “We should not stay away from our assembly…” Evidently, some in the community have given
up the practice of common worship. It is
possible that they lived in fear of being noticed at Christian worship as the letter
at different points suggests religious persecution. More likely, however, the people were growing
apathetic waiting for Christ to return.
We can do something to increase mass attendance. Showing interest in the people who come to
worship, perhaps taking the time to talk with them over coffee when the service
is over, will make everyone a more caring individual. After all, it is Christ whom we engage in the
Eucharist. He doesn’t leave us when we
are dismissed but brightens our whole lives.
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