Dear Parishioners and Friends,
If we prepare for Mass the night before and continue with ardent prayers that morning, then our journey to Mass is also like no other.
Schmemann tells us that the entire Eucharist is best understood as a journey—a journey of the Church into the dimension of the Kingdom. We’re on our way to a fourth dimension which allows us to see the ultimate reality of life and more deeply into the reality of the world. This journey begins, he tells us, when Christians leave their homes and beds. At this point, the sacramental act is already taking place.
So what might this look like in the car? Yes, temporal concerns will come to mind just like any other day. There will still be distractions on the road and children fussing. But we can also seek God’s grace to sanctify this time.
How can we do this? Someone not driving can continue reading preparatory prayers for Mass or read aloud Morning Prayer. To engage the whole family, you can sing praise songs or familiar hymns. Pray in your own words, asking God to prepare your hearts for entering sacred time and space. All these things build enthusiasm for worship.
In Christ,
Fr. Scharbach
“But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ ” Matthew 25:6