I feel sorry for the priests who look out from the ambo and see glazed eyes, yawns or people thumping their watches, while they are trying to offer words of spiritual direction, growth and renewal.
They can’t shepherd the flock if the flock is counting sheep! These same people will “bah,” complaining that “Mass is boring.” The next week, they return only because Mass is a mindless habit.
If we don’t actively participate at Mass, the devil can sneak in and create boredom. Be honest: Have you ever been bored at Mass? I certainly have. Let’s face it, it’s easy to become distracted. After all, we’re only human.
I have entered the church for Mass upset, life getting me down, just not feeling the best emotionally or physically. But when I left, I felt totally re-energized, ready to go for another week. Maybe it was a hymn I sang. Maybe it was something I heard during the readings or the Gospel message that the priest explained. But most importantly and profoundly, it was receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, the source and summit of my Catholic faith.
So what connects us to the Mass? It’s the active participation of our bodies, minds and spirits.
Without active participation at Mass, we will wither up and spiritually die because Satan will convince us that we’re bored. He tells us: Wouldn’t it be nice to beat the church crowd and go shopping, go play golf, watch the ballgame? It’s the weekend, and you deserve a nap, he insinuates. Satan is cunning, creeping in as soon as our eyes move away from the crucifix and towards ourselves.
Yes, we can point fingers at the weak-sounding choir, the lackluster lectors, the slow ushers, the indifferent altar servers, the extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion who don’t smile, the greeters who ignore us, the long-winded priests. We can complain that the pope is too liberal, the saints are too pious, the church doesn’t have enough artwork or statues. It’s too hot or too cold, a baby is crying, that young woman is wearing a skirt that’s too short, why is that guy chewing gum?
But the truth is, we are the ones to blame. Our attention has become focused on us and not on Jesus Christ.
Boredom is spiritual cancer and it will destroy your precious faith. If you’re bored, it’s time to go to the Divine Physician, Jesus! Meet Him at reconciliation, in prayer, and at the altar in the Eucharist.
We should count ourselves blessed to have the opportunity to go to Mass and receive the healing grace of our Savior. We have nothing stopping us – except us.
During this Easter season, try going to Mass more than once a week and fall in love with Jesus all over again. Don’t count sheep. “Ewe” are special!
Bobby Speers is a writer who lives in Hickory and serves as chairperson of St. Aloysius Church’s evangelization commission.