Sunday Service — Part One
Surprisingly, my determination to go to church today was stronger than usual. Some Sundays, I struggle to get out of bed and ask myself, “Why should I go?” Then I remember my commitment to God: I don’t want to miss Mass unless I’m truly sick or bedridden.
Today, I had felt like staying home to prepare for the workweek and take care of things, but I still wanted to be at church. At 12:15, I hurried to bathe and get dressed. I arrived at 12:55 for the 1 p.m. Mass.
I wasn’t thinking about makeup, earrings, bangles, or lip gloss. My lips were dry, and I had forgotten to drink water all day. I put on regular clothes, used my body mist and perfume, and wore my glasses. I wanted to be present in church, not just to mark myself present.
As soon as Mass began, I was listening. I was present, very present. Sometimes we’re physically present but absent in our minds and thoughts. Today, I was fully there. I started recording Father Andrew’s homily because I wanted to take the teaching home with me and read it again. I was so absorbed that I felt I would have noticed if a needle fell.
I went to church wanting to visit Jesus. I left feeling that Jesus had visited me, too. I can’t describe that feeling; I only know that I remain deeply humble.
I’d like to share Father Andrew’s teaching in part, as I remember it. He spoke about how we can miss the ways God is already reaching us when we expect Him to speak in only one particular way. He compared God’s care to the quiet care of someone who loves us: remembering what matters to us, changing their schedule when we’re struggling, or doing something thoughtful to make life easier. We may notice God’s presence through Scripture, prayer, another person’s kindness, and even something as ordinary as a rainstorm. He reminded us that not every feeling or coincidence is a message from God; a heart formed in prayer becomes more attentive to His grace.
Father Andrew also spoke about building an authentic relationship with God. If we turn to Him only when we need something, we may not develop the closeness that helps us recognize His presence. If we pray only when we’re frightened, we may mistake His silence for absence. A steady life of prayer, seeking God and surrendering to Him, helps us grow in that relationship—not only in difficult moments, but in ordinary life, too.
Fr. Andrew emphasized the problem of having a watered-down Christian faith, as is often seen these days among believers who are quick to profess “Christian” as an identity. He admonished us, emphatically calling us to true repentance that leads to authentic Christianity, with a commitment to our faith and consistency in our walk with God.
Indeed, we need to retrace our steps. It is time for a revival—a call to authentic Christianity. Our faith must be more than a label we claim or a box we check. It must be more than lip service and words; it must be lived.
