The mass is so boring! Why do I need to go?

It's easy to feel close to God here.

I get this question all of the time, "Why do I have to go to mass?  It is so boring?"  Another version that I like is, "I find God and I feel close to him when I'm out in the woods and amongst Gods creation... why do I have to worship God in Church why can't I worship Him when I feel close to him on a hike [or fishing]?"

Me... in the workshop using a hand plane.

I've got to be honest... I agree with the feelings behind this question.  I love spending time amongst God's creation.  For me I feel very close to God when I'm in the workshop woodworking.  That is a very spiritual experience for me.  I get it.  It is easy to worship God when we feel close to him.  A church building surrounded by people that you may not know on a Sunday morning might not be the moment when you feel closest to God.


So I'd like to share a few... well maybe five reasons why I think it is important to go to mass.  


I'll explain these five reasons over the next few days.

1. No one has a party by themselves
2. My mother's advice
3. I'd like to tell you a story
4. An encounter with the true presence of Christ
5. A response to love (the best reason)

Reason #1
I love going to parties.  I enjoy seeing friends and family and having a good time with other people... I am an extrovert after all

This make my point... and it makes me laugh.

A party is really not a party if you are the only one there.  The experience of being a Christian is not just about "you and God."  Worshiping God is kind of like having a party by yourself.  There are just some things that need lots of people to be complete.  Worshiping God is incomplete without other people.  Christians have always believe this.  


Lately in our world we have emphasized the importance of the individual person.  This is not a bad thing but it can be taken too far.  If we make the individual the "center of the universe" then we miss out on a lot of what life can offer.  No one can play a board game by themselves.... I don't think.  Tennis (or ping pong if you are me) can't be enjoyed by yourself.  There are many other activities that need two.  The old saying is, "it takes two to tango."

It takes two to tango!

I think there is wisdom in this.  If we think that worship can be done well by ourself without anyone else then I think we are missing something.


A party need others and worship needs a Christian community.


I chatted with my cousin a few years ago after he decided to stop going to church.


He said to me, "I don't go to church because it is full of hypocrites."


My response was, "You are absolutely correct!  That's the whole point!"


I really wanted to say, "Don't worry... you will fit right in."


But I controlled my tongue and kept that last comment to myself.

Makes sense to me!

We need each other.  I need to worship with other sinners like me... because I am a sinner.  I need your support and your witness of faith to encourage me in my faith.


Never, in the history of Christianity, has there been the idea that Jesus and his Gospel was just about "Me and God."

What Jesus said and did was about drawing us into a community that St. Paul called "The Body of Christ, The Church."


That is why we need to worship together... we need each other and we are a community.


No one can "do" community by themselves and no one can really worship Christ by them self.


Worship is like a party... you can't do it by yourself.


Stay tuned for more posts explaining #2 through #5!