Instead of viewing it as an obligatory ritual, what if we came to understand the Mass as love story between God and humanity? Putting aside our desires to zone out or give in to distractions, we can show up ready to give ourselves to Jesus and receive Him in return.
A Posture of Vulnerability
If you're struggling to pray in the Mass, you're not alone! Perhaps you are feeling that the Mass is just not very personal. Or maybe you catch yourself thinking of it as another weekly routine. This can be a sign to check the postures of our own hearts. Are we dispositioned to fully receive the graces of the Mass?
Beth Davis and Jenna Guizar once spent a whole BIS podcast episode on the Eucharist—one of Blessed is She's five core values—in which they shared how their understanding of the Mass has deepened over time. In so doing, Beth recounts Fr. Boniface Hicks' insight in Personal Prayer that the Confiteor is placed at the start of the Mass:
I confess to almighty God
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have greatly sinned
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done,
and in what I have failed to do;
through my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault;
therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,
all the Angels and Saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.
Engaging in the Mass requires vulnerability. However, we often come into the liturgy with walls built from our fears, doubts, sins, and even to-dos. The Confiteor serves as a reminder of our need for God’s mercy. It invites us to lower our defenses and acknowledge our weaknesses, paving the way for a personal encounter with the Lord.
Vulnerability is a two-way street. By confessing our sins at the outset, we acknowledge our need for God, which helps us to open our hearts to His love. This act of vulnerability on our part is then met in the next parts of the Mass by His own vulnerability, both in His presence in the Liturgy of the Word and in the gift of Himself in the Eucharist.
An Invitation to Deeper Relationship
Viewing the Mass through the lens of love transforms the experience from obligation to invitation. God desires a personal relationship with each of us, and the Mass is a profound expression of that desire. The readings, prayers, and ultimately, the Eucharist itself, are all part of the divine love story between God and man.
When we understand the Mass with this perspective, it becomes easier to engage with the liturgy. We enter into a narrative of love: God pursues us and invites us into a relationship. Recognizing this can shift our mindset from merely attending Mass to active participation in a sacred relationship. "The desire of God's heart is to have a one-flesh union with me," Beth reflects in the episode. "That's what the Eucharist is," she adds. How beautiful is that?
God's presence in the Eucharist is a profound mystery. Although it may be difficult to comprehend, faith in Sacred Scripture and Tradition allows us to embrace this truth even when our senses seem to tell us otherwise. The Eucharist is not just a symbol. It is the true Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, present among us.
Coming Ready to Receive
In this sacrament, the Lover of our souls invites us to become one with Him at every Mass. Recognizing this can radically change the experience! Together, may we recognize our indifference, embrace our vulnerability, and appreciate each celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as the unfolding of God's desire to be united with us.
Let us show up to Mass as we are, ready to receive His love.
HE DWELLS IN YOU.
When we draw close to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, He comes to dwell within us as a lover, nourishment, unifier, healer, and with His grace. Jesus alone fulfills every need and brings us lasting satisfaction.
Learn more about this beautiful truth with our Dwell Study.
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