EDITORIAL

Time for Mass

Who amongst us, if we’re honest, has not checked the time at least once during Mass? Sadly but true, the Sunday liturgy often becomes something to get done. One husband we know drove his wife batty with his stated preference for a Saturday vigil service so as to “get it over with.” Mass, she yelled back, wasn’t something to “get over.”

To paraphrase Jesus to Peter, before the final hymn is sung, we will have wondered, “Is it almost over?” three times. Last week, we challenged Catholics to expect and welcome more of a challenge in homilies.

Pity the pastor whose sermon lasts more than 10 minutes or whose Mass, as a result, goes over an hour. In come the complaints and out go the people. At one parish, where the pastor celebrated the Mass with reverence and tipped over 60 minutes, one congregant stood in the back and pointed to his wristwatch: “Time’s up, Father.”

Where are we rushing? Many families will spend hours watching t-ball games, soccer practice or swim meets — never mind television and the internet. We can spare more time, and more willingly, to join with God and one another through the Eucharist once a week. Where else do we need to be more than there?

(08/26/10)