Why Go to Church?

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

September 1, 2013

Luke 14:1,7-14

“On a sabbath he went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees…(Luk 14:1)

When was the last time you went to the Church? Perhaps, few minutes ago, just this morning, last Sunday, barely a month ago, or we simply forget when it was. Why do you go to the Church then? Maybe, we aim at the spiritual nourishment, or we are conditioned to repeat our family tradition, or we merely want to appease our nagging mother. Why do we choose that particular Church instead? Well, it is our parish Church, or it is more convenient and accessible to our house, or it is fully air-conditioned and cozy, or there, we may listen to best preachers in town.

I would like to believe that our motivation going to the Church is not homogenous, rather a unique blend of a bunch of reasons, both the holy and not so holy ones. Allow me to make this little confession: I hear mass every morning at Santo Domingo Church, just few meters away from my room. I am fully aware that the Eucharist is the summit and fullness of my religious life. There I encounter His real presence and partake in His most holy sacrament. Yet, often, I bring with me other luggage as well. Well, daily mass is required by our superiors and thus, to avoid trouble with them, I better do not escape it. At times, I feel so excited knowing the priest is an energetic preacher, but I wish the mass ends soon when I know that the preaching is rather flat. 

I realize that I am just ordinary human, and like other persons, I bring my entire humanity to the Eucharist. In the Gospel, Jesus pointed out that people attend or host a banquet for various reasons: to celebrate life with friends, to mark the momentous life’s events, to seek popularity or to be pleased and delighted. Like the people around Jesus, we may have in our hearts varied intentions: to grow spiritually, to enjoy the moment with the Lord, or simply to be entertained by the fun homilies. Doubtless, Jesus asked us for purification of intention, but moreover, He still accepted the invitation and became part of that celebration despite all not so pure goals of ours.

Jesus did not condemn the celebration, rather he entered and actively participated in our imperfect gathering. We lose a lot if we merely consider the Eucharist as the repast of the angels! It is the celebration of humanity, in which we carry our all human love, strengths, struggles and pains. Yet, despite our constant struggles, we are assured that Jesus is also there with us, and struggling with us. He is there silently binding our wounds, slowly healing our broken hearts, and gently transforming our lives.

Be patient when we do not pass the angelic standards, but rejoice that in our humanity because we choose not to give up, but to invite Christ in our life’s celebration and allow Him to gradually shape our lives.

Br. Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP