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The Mass is a gift where we are able to visit with our Lord and receive him. I have many times thought that if all of us really knew what went on at Mass and that Jesus was there waiting, there wouldn't be room in the church at Mass! Sadly, many of us don't recognize this gift and there is plenty of room at mass on Sundays. There may be even more room on a Holy Day of Obligation!
Many times on Catholic Radio they will go over many statistics that are frankly sad, scary, and discouraging. Only about 20 percent of enrolled parishioners actually attend mMass on Sunday. Over half of the kids who are confirmed will stop practicing their faith in or after college, and the list continues. I am a cradle Catholic and revert. After my return to the Church, I have not tired of its beauty and mystery. My hope is that my son will learn to love and practice our faith, but most importantly, I would love for him to have a relationship with Jesus.
He's twelve, so there are many eye-rolling moments when I bring up something about Mass. However, as soon as I say, "Jesus is with you all the time and you can't give him an hour? When you love someone you want to see them and spend time with them." The eye-rolling stops because he realizes it's true and affirms the fact that Jesus is there at Mass waiting.
When we think of where are time is spent, we realize that either that person, job, hobby, and so on, is what we really love. I know that when I am looking at saving more money, I take a look to see where I need to spend less or not at all. By doing that, it becomes obvious what I'm attached to more than I should be.
So this Advent I have decided that I am going to take notes during the homily at Mass. Yes, I will have a small notebook and pen in hand, listening eagerly to see what will go on my page. What does Jesus want me to know or to do? I need to listen eagerly and attentively. Usually when we take notes, it's because we care about that particular subject and it's something we want to remember. We take notes because in some way it is important to us. I am not going to write pages and pages; I may just write a phrase or word that touches my heart.
The key is to use it and apply that one thing during our week. Like Jesus and our faith, it should be on our mind and in practice all week long. We should be living our faith; it shouldn't just be something we do on Sundays.
Isn't what Jesus has to say important? Now this is not my idea, but Matthew Kelly's. He has Mass journals that date back to 2004! He uses them to decide what his next book will be about, because he is in the business of bringing the Gospel to all with the hope that it will be transforming. Therefore, I have decided that I too want to listen to Jesus in a new way. I want Jesus to transform me as well. My hope is that my son and others will ask me what or why I am taking notes during Mass, it will give me a chance to evangelize and bring others to Jesus.
Will you take notes this Advent?
Copyright 2018 Elizabeth Estrada
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