Mass is a beautiful thing… that can sometimes feel insufferably long. Obviously having that feeling towards mass is wrong and a weakness… but one can take solace in the fact we are all human with very human feelings and failings.
At mass this past Sunday I had to chuckle to myself when two kids two pews in front of me reached their “mass limit” at the most important moment of the mass — as the priest is consecrating the gifts. I chuckled because this is the classic moment kids start to lose it. My kids are somehow always perfectly in-tune with the mass and automatically knowing when it is that we are supposed to pay the closest attention and be the quietest we can be.
It appears that our attention-patience (attentience?) span when life is ruled by the “id” is typically about as long as it takes for the priest to get to the consecration. Every time.
The mom worked on settling her young toddler daughter down as the dad held his son. Then a small child must have fell off of a kneeler or pulled one down on himself and started wailing. Then a few more small voices joined in the chorus of giving up “just sitting around”.
The priest says a prayer that includes asking the Lord to “keep us safe from all distress”. Another chuckle point because when you have a kid or two (or more) that you are in charge of and they all start losing it at this point in the mass you definitely feel stress, distressed, and questioning why mass had to be so long as break your somewhat well-behaved children and turn them into tiny terrors.
It was comforting to see that it isn’t just me. Because I know it isn’t just me and my kids, but when you’re in it it feels like the whole world is conspiring against your peace. I have listened to the “keep us safe from all distress” line so many times while feeling very distressed and trying to quiet my kids – that the ironic nature was both humorous and annoying.
But on this Sunday I only had Nora with me. She is always an angel at church (and always)… well, ever since she grew out of her “I’m going to crawl away from you under the pew” phase. So I listened to these tiny voices and said a prayer for the parents to have some peace.
Then naturally during this time the priest continues thru the prayer and gets to the classic “My peace I leave you, my peace I give you” and you really wish for the peace but can struggle to feel it. In those kid-harried moments the peace is greatly needed but barely noticed. You then have the chance to grant each other a sign of peace – and you have to do it thru sighs, deep breaths, and toddlers struggling to leave your arms. That is, you have to find peace when all of your peace is gone (thanks be to God He grants us His peace! Because we are helpless without it!)
Did you ever think mass was so full of chuckle-worthy moments? If someone ever tells you God is all serious business feel free to mention how He appears to have designed us to have less peace and less patience than much of life requires – so he definitely has a sense of humor.
Is it a coincidence that mass always lasts longer than a small child’s ability to sit still? I think it is purposeful. I think it is kind of beautiful that during mass I can look around and see the point where the less-formed version of myself would be ready to call it quits on all this “waiting around”. And it happens to happen at the most important point of the mass — the point where I have to decide to “endure it” -that is, I have to decide that this is what I want most of all — that I want to be with God, receive Jesus, and have the life and peace that only He can provide. I have to overcome my nature and actively choose God. I have to grow in my love, my faith, my ability to suffer the “insufferable” and simply look to God and lean on God and love God as He calls me to love Him — completely and with all my being.
So the next time the priest reaches the Liturgy of the Eucharist take note on all the small voices you start noticing that might not have been so loud before. And remember that you were them once upon a time. Be grateful that they are there. Be grateful that you are there. Be grateful for the peace God grants us -especially in times of distress (both big and small).
Give God Your Yes 