Sundays are for football and Jesus

On Saturday night my family and I attended 4:00 Mass.  We are now on our “football” schedule and getting to Mass on Saturday is part of that football routine versus attending Mass on Sunday…when all the games are played. 

Parents, Casey and I are just like you.  Our kids can be terrible during Mass. They are loud, they cry, and they can’t seem to sit still!  This past Saturday was no different for Casey and me.  Naps were cut short so we could make Mass by 4:00.  (Even with that, we showed up five minutes late!)  Preston was tired and crabby.  Cameron could not sit still or be quiet.  As parents we do everything we can to make them behave.  (Being the principal of the school makes me feel that the whole church is staring at me to see how the kids are behaving…or not behaving!)  Well, on Saturday, Casey and I were NOT parents of the year.  The Kindle came out for Cameron and I told Preston he could pick where we were going to eat for dinner…anything to get them to behave!  Thankfully we got through it, even with a few minutes to sit, listen, and pray. 

Most parents with young children have asked or at least wondered about these ideas.  “Why go to Mass?”  “It is too hard.”  “We have a million things to do this weekend.”  The list goes on.  You might have some of your own to add. 

Shame on me.  Even though I know better, I have said and done some of the things listed above.  What a terrible example for my family, for my students, and for my staff.  Good news though!  Each new week brings us a chance to start over again. 

Recently, I found a list of reasons pointing out why we should attend Mass weekly.  I would like to share this list with my fellow parents so the next time we begin the path of finding reason for not going to church, we can stop, change our way of thinking, and choose the path that leads us to church. 

·         I owe God for all that He has given me. 

·         Besides talking to God, I need God to talk to me. 

·         I believe in Jesus.  Jesus told us to continue celebrating the Last Supper.  Mass is the Last Supper, the death and resurrection of Jesus.  Eucharist = Jesus, who gives us life. 

·         We ought to be a “live” member of a community.  Important to belong to a community…the body of believers. 

·         I want to be a contributing member.  We have to put something in if we expect to get something out. 

·         I have a body.  Mass is part of the human side of our faith.  Jesus said, “Do this…”

·         I have sinned.  God is forgiveness. 

·         I need other to pray well.

·         I need energy.  We need to be strengthened to live daily. 

·         The Mass helps me find the sacred in the ordinary. 

·         I was made to praise. 

Casey and I have made the commitment to stop using excuses.  We will hold each other accountable and we will set good examples for Preston and Cameron.  I know you will, too.  We are all in this together. 

Sundays are for football and Jesus!