Sunday Mass and Why It Matters
Katie was a thoughtful and insightful 8th grader in my Catechism class. During our discussion on the Ten Commandments, we reached the third commandment: “Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.” As we talked about the importance of attending Sunday Mass, Katie respectfully shared, “Well, I don’t think my god would hold it against me if I didn’t go to Mass on Sundays.”
Her comment caught the attention of the whole class. I paused, then gently replied, “Katie, I don’t know who your god is, but I’m confident that our God hasn’t made any changes to His commandments.”
That moment stayed with me. It reminded me how common this belief has become – even among those raised in Catholic homes and educated in Catholic schools. I’ve heard similar sentiments from my own family: nephews and brothers I deeply love, who now see Sunday Mass as optional. What used to be a rare absence has, for some, become a complete disconnect from regular Mass attendance.
So how did we get here?
Many people today express a desire for a more personal and spiritual connection to God… sometimes outside the structure of organized religion. For some, the rituals of the Mass can feel distant or outdated. Others may wrestle with aspects of Church teaching or have had painful experiences that led them to step away.
These realities are not to be dismissed lightly. The Church, like any family, has its challenges and moments of needed reform. And yet, at the heart of our faith is something extraordinary: the Eucharist. We believe that Christ is truly present – Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity – at every Mass. This is not just a ritual. It’s a real encounter with the living God.
The Church teaches, with love and clarity, that attending Mass on Sundays and holy days is not just a suggestion – it’s an obligation rooted in the Third Commandment. Not because God wants to burden us, but because He longs to be with us, to nourish us through Word and Sacrament, and to draw us into deeper communion with Him and one another.
Still, I’ve learned that it's not my place to judge hearts. Only God sees the full picture of each person’s life. Perhaps someone who doesn’t attend Mass is still striving to live a moral life, while someone else might fulfill their Sunday obligation yet struggle with serious faults in other areas. We’re all on a journey. We all fall short.
My job isn't to judge, but to love. To invite, not to shame. And to keep tending the small part of the world God has entrusted to me, with humility and compassion.
Let’s continue to encourage one another to rediscover the beauty of the Mass and the joy of honoring the Sabbath, not out of fear or guilt, but out of love for a God who never stops calling us home.
Peace,
Dave
The Ten Commandments:
- I am the Lord your God; you shall not have strange gods before me.
- You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
- Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.
- Honor your father and your mother.
- You shall not kill.
- You shall not commit adultery.
- You shall not steal.
- You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
- You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.
- You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.
These commandments continue to guide Catholics in living lives rooted in love of God and neighbor.
