I just had the experience of officiating at a friend’s funeral. Though not a frequent church goer, she professed a personal relationship with Jesus, prayed often, and though a sinner like the rest of us, did her best to live a moral and ethical life. I really enjoyed our conversations. It raises an interesting question, “Can a person be a good Christian and not attend church services or follow the basic church teaching?
I know many people including relatives and friends, who profess to love Jesus, God and neighbor, yet have very little use for organized religion. I have often heard them say, “I don’t have to go to church, or believe all that the Church teaches to be a good Christian. All I really need to do is believe in God.”
I also know people of my older generation who have adult children and grandchildren who attended mass every Sunday, went to confession twice a month, were confirmed, and married in the Catholic Church, who no longer attend. Recently, I attended the funeral of a very devout grandmother and great grandmother. Many attendees, though coming from devout parentage, needed to be coached when to kneel, stand, and sit during mass at her funeral. Many did not go to communion. Many looked at each other in bewilderment at what was going on, not able to understand and participate.
When I listen to older people whose progeny don’t attend church services, they also seem befuddled, “How can my children and grandchildren not want to attend church? It means so much to me and not much to them!”
I am not even going to pretend I have answers. I want my family and friends to not only profess belief, but to participate in church services and be a part of Church community. I have expressed my desire to them, invited them, and shared my faith with them. I love them and they love me. How wonderful it would be if even one of them began attending regularly!
It is wintertime, a season of ice, snow, and power outages. It is also a time of new beginnings. Spring is just around the corner as the days slowly get longer. I don’t know what others may do, but I am going to remain faithful to my God and Church, live my life as Jesus would have me do, attend mass as often as I can, go to confession and be more charitable. I will try to be a better person. I am reminded of the words of St. Theresa of Calcutta, “We are not called to be successful, but faithful.”
Yet, I have an overwhelming desire to have everyone attend church, to not only know Jesus, but to worship him at mass and church. Along with a personal relationship with Jesus, I want everyone to pray, sing, and go to communion, too. What will it take for them to attend with me?
“May the Lord bless and keep you. May he let his face shine upon you, be gracious to you and give you his peace.”