"....while David and all Israel danced before God with great enthusiasm, amid songs and music on lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets." - 1 Chronicles 13:8
SITUATION EXPLAINED
What is your normal experience like at Mass? Does Mass usually start at 6 o'clock sharp and end at 7 o'clock DULL? Have you ever wanted to scream at Mass because a lot of the people "just aren't into it?" What are you called to do at Mass?
SOLUTION OFFERED
So, today we have this verse from 1 Chronicles, (which isn't exactly a book anybody reads everyday), and we have an incredible example of a disciple of God.
Here's David.....KING David, the most powerful man in the world, at the time, DANCING and SINGING with great enthusiasm. Let me write that again, because it's that important......KING David, leader of all Israel, was SO overcome with enthusiasm and love for God, that he sang, and danced before God. Now that's joy and that's passion.
Is that how you feel when you're before God during the celebration of the Holy Mass? When you look upon Christ in the Eucharist, and encounter Christ in His Word in the readings, do you stop to think about how cool it is that you are experiencing GOD, the creator of the universe, the earth, the heavens, and you and me?
Notice two things here......first, David didn't care what people thought.....he was celebrating God's existence and love for him. It says in the verse that all of Israel joined in the dancing. Second, David was a leader in love with God, and who lead others by his example. We as Catholics have a leader like this today, in our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II. He is in love with God, and he leads us by an incredible example, and his enthusiasm is seen when he speaks, especially at the World Youth Days.
Start praying today, and pray every day this week that this Sunday you will have a new passion for God. It may mean that you will need to sing louder, or sit away from distractions, or sit in the first couple pews.......DO IT. Do whatever it takes to put yourself in a position to get more out of Mass this weekend, and to lead others by your passionate participation. You don't have to be jumping up and down (that could be dangerous), but you are called to FULL, CONCIOUS, ACTIVE participation.
Catholicism is NOT a spectator sport.
SALVATION GIVEN
"....while David and all Israel danced before God with great enthusiasm, amid songs and music on lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets." - 1 Chronicles 13:8
Why is it that we fight for front row seats at concerts, but fight for seats in the back at Church?
Lord, give me the desire to be a "front row" Catholic.