By Bob Sullivan
There is a new reality show which has caught the attention of many. The star is a survivor in the truest sense of the word. He can make a meal appear out of thin air, bad weather does not slow him down a bit, and regardless of the terrain, he always makes it to his destination with the greatest of ease. And how about his interpersonal skills? He’s the type of guy you either love or hate.
However, the show does not go into depth about the star’s day-to-day adventures. Instead, this reality show focuses on one thing the star always does, in every episode. Yes, there is always a glimpse into other things he did as well. There are always the interesting things he did with his friends; the occasions when he outsmarted those who were trying to sabotage him; incidents when it looked like he was going to be attacked, but he was able to slip away as though he suddenly became invisible, etc. However, all those are like flashbacks to things he did long ago.
In a new twist for reality television, and a twist which not only makes this show unique, but far better than all the other reality shows out there, this reality series ends the same way every time. And every time, it is live, unedited, and miraculous.
You know that I’m not actually talking about a reality series. I’m talking about Jesus Christ and Holy Mass. It is only making its debut as a type of reality show because the world has gone into lockdown due to the coronavirus. Because of this, 99.9% of us are not able to get into our parish church in order to be present for Mass each day. Therefore, many of us are watching Mass on a screen. Each day on social media and through various websites, parishes and priests across the country are livestreaming Mass.
Watching Holy Mass on electronics is not adequate. However, due to government regulations, it has been temporarily necessary for anyone who wants to remain in touch with their parish, the Church, and our faith, in a way which simulates or replicates the physical participation in the Mass. It is not an obligation, and I’m sure it isn’t for everyone, but for many people, watching their parish livestream or the replay of the day’s Mass, has been a comforting compromise.
Thankfully, this compromise will come to an end. Soon, our churches will be open and there will be no prohibition from public gatherings, no limitations on how much distance we will be expected to keep between us, no masks, no gloves, and no uncomfortable pauses when we would usually greet each other with a handshake. This is when we should stop for a moment and consider how we approach each Mass, because for many of us, Holy Mass has been like a reality series, an old rerun actually.
The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is not a rerun. Mass is not something we watch. Mass is not an empty ritual or a reenactment about a historical figure and a supporting cast. On the other hand, it is not a re-crucifixion of Christ either, as is often alleged by some of our non-Catholic brothers and sisters who go to the other extreme regarding their understanding of the Mass.
While some aspects of the Mass certainly do recount historical events, traditions, and people, there is absolutely nothing about the Eucharist which is historical or replayed in any way. From the priestly garb to the candles, to the prayers, everything in the Mass is intended to bring us to the deepest and most personal interaction with God possible on earth: The Eucharist. Every aspect of the Mass is here to help us intimately experience and encounter Jesus Christ in the flesh.
I know, I know. You have heard this a million times if you have heard it once: The Eucharist is the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus Christ. But do you really believe that the bread and wine truly become the flesh and blood of Jesus when the priest prays the essential words of the Eucharistic prayer, “this is my body” and “this is the chalice of my blood”? Maybe you do, but sadly, the majority of Catholics in the United States do not. Maybe this is where all these livestreamed Masses will actually bring about a reawakening for Catholics.
While Holy Mass is not a reality show, in a profound way, it is the ultimate reality show. It has the exact same ending every time, but what other ending could we want? In this ending, the gates of Heaven are thrown open for all of us, should we care to enter. In this ending, the star of the show dies a crushing, humiliating, and terrifying death. But that’s not all, folks. He then writes the script for every single reality show, movie, play, and love story ever written since then: He rises from the dead.
However, it is not a script. In every Mass, on every altar throughout the world, thousands of times every single day, He does this for real, in real time, and He does this for you, and me, and everyone we love. He even does this for those we don’t love and don’t even like. He even does this for people who don’t believe He exists, and those who believe He exists but who dislike or even hate Him.
When we return to our parish for Mass, may we all appreciate all the history and tradition which brings us back to that moment twenty centuries ago when Jesus looked up to His Father and gave everything He had as a ransom for me and you.
When we are able to break this fast from the Eucharist, may we never take Him for granted again. May each communion be like our first, our only, and our last.
May we realize that we are not one of many in God’s eyes. May we realize and live each moment truly knowing that Jesus will stop everything just to reach His hand out to me and pull me close in order to put His arm over my shoulder and walk with me, talk with me, and sacrifice everything He has for me.
The once-and-for-all sacrifice is present right before us at the Mass. All we need to do is realize that this isn’t a show, it isn’t a replay, and it isn’t a reenactment. We are in the Upper Room, we are at Calvary, and finally, we are at the open tomb on Easter morning. The Mass does not bring Jesus to our church so we can re-crucify Him, it takes us to these places 2,000 years ago.
Watching Holy Mass since public Masses ceased, has been a blessing. When we get back to the real thing, let us experience it as it is meant to be: real and present.
