The Holy Mass holds a central place in the Catholic faith. Sundays are holy days of obligation, where all Catholics worldwide are encouraged to gather in reverence and worship as a community, for it is the highest form of prayer for us believers in the faith. It is in the Mass that the parishioners come together to remember and participate in the holy sacrifice of Jesus, uniting in a shared expression of faith.
It is in the sacred Eucharistic celebration that a meaningful bond among us parishioners is fostered, as we collectively seek God’s forgiveness, guidance, and divine intervention. The Mass provides an opportunity for us to reflect on the blessings of the past week, and encouraging gratitude for God’s grace.
As part of the liturgy, gifts are offered, the Word of God is proclaimed, the homily circling around the gospel is preached and the faithful receive spiritual nourishment through the Eucharist, which we Catholics believe to be the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ.
It is more than just a ritual for us in the faith, for the Mass is a profound spiritual experience that cultivates a deeper relationship with God, the Father, strengthening us, the community of believers, reminding each one of us our shared mission to live out their faith in daily life. Hymns are sung throughout the Mass, serving as a reflection of the Gospel reading.
Standing, sitting, and kneeling—all have significance in the order of the Mass. We stand to pray in unison and pay reverence to the proclaimed Eternal Word of God. We sit to actively listen to the homily. We kneel to show respect for the consecration taking place universally, as Mass is celebrated all over the world. It is in these holy moments that the bread and wine are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ.
By participating in this sacred act during the Mass, we Catholics reaffirm our commitment to Christ, profess our faith, and prepare to confront the challenges of the world with renewed strength and grace, especially as the priest offers a blessing to the congregation in the concluding rite.
Alright, so here is where my sharing starts—
On October 6th this year, just last Sunday, I decided to do my quick go-live video on my Facebook page. Why do I do these live videos? Well, it's because we are doing this team go-live challenge in our global digital business. This is part of unleashing our courage to do these videos, and also for our followers and supporters on Facebook to get to know us a little bit better.
Alright, so feeling confident that I’d finish the video in under ten minutes, I thought I still had ten to fifteen minutes to get ready, so I went ahead and did it. However, the video ended up lasting nearly fifteen minutes. Hurriedly, I rushed upstairs to change. By the time we stepped out of the house, we only had six minutes to get to church.
Or so I thought...
We were all quiet in the car, especially me, as we focused on getting to Mass on time with the little time we had left. I normally would turn on the stereo to listen to some songs on our way to church, but not that Sunday. Oh yes, I was guilty. I was guilty because this wasn't the appopriate attitude before going to Mass.
However, here is what happened, though...
If I'm not mistaken, we have around twelve to fifteen traffic lights from our home to the church. Yes, a lot. Imagine if all the lights turned red! Not good, right? If I happened to be a nail-biter, I'd be biting my nails from the moment we left the driveway all the way to the church. Not a pretty sight, I know.
Here’s the thing: the plan was that as soon as we got to the church premises, my husband would drop us off by the door of the church, and then he’d go find a parking space. Parking can get tight in the church parking area since it is an old church located in a very constricted area with no room for expansion.
Much to our surprise, not one traffic turned red! Ooh-la-la!
Even more surprising, as soon as we got there, a car pulled out of the parking lot—just three cars away from the church door! Were we relieved, or what! The weight of guilt that occupied my thoughts was lifted, and we couldn't help but share our joy that God took care of our drive to church. I'd like to think that it’s important to Him that His business is important to us.
October 6th is my mother's birthday. She's in the care of the Lord now. Going to Mass on that day, which happens to be on a Sunday this year, adds twice the specialness to the occasion.
We saw God's divine accommodation, ensuring we felt good about not being late for Mass, knowing that I don't like arriving late. God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good! And yes, His gift to my Mom on her birthday celebration in heaven. Amen.
Now is your turn to share your stories ingrained with a heavenly touch. Shoot me a message, I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Many Blessings!
Create Your Own Website With Webador