One of the important aspects of the God-given freedom, at the heart of our dignity as human beings, is our ability to choose what it is we will give our heart and soul to. In some ways this is what distinguishes us from, and by God’s plan raises us above, the rest of creation.

 

The animal world is moved largely by instinct and learned behavior. That is, of course, different from freedom, which is motivated by factors such as reason, a conscious desire (good or bad) and the responsibility that follows from the use of freedom. All of these are part of the gift of rationality and spirituality God has planted in human creation.

 

As human beings, we rightly use that freedom to find our place in the world. We do so by discovering the gifts each of us has and by recognizing the order and plan, and by contributing to that plan in various ways. An example of such a plan is the role of the family that is inherent in creation. 

 

For us as Christians, freedom has a further dimension that colors and expands every aspect of our daily choices in forming who and what we are. That is the knowledge of God and of the divine plan.

 

Having been given the gift of faith we know of the personal love of God. We know of His desire for us to live with Him beyond our earthly existence. This world and its joys and sorrows are not all that we can hope for. Every choice we make is one moment, one part, of the expression of our use of freedom in choosing for God in heaven or for what is not God. And that, in the end, is always hell itself.

 

It is in this context that we can recognize an important aspect of day-to-day living. That is, the choices of what we will freely participate in and what we freely choose not to engage in. 

 

For example, a person with faith and hope might well choose to volunteer some of their time and presence to feed the hungry or assist the needy. And in their freedom, they might explicitly offer that personal presence and participation to God, as an external expression of their internal free choice for Him. The same of course can be said for countless other examples such as helping neighbors, assisting elderly parents or welcoming the stranger and the immigrant.

 

I would like to highlight one particular use of freedom that is of the highest importance, but which is challenged and even diminishing in our time. That is the choice Catholics make to attend Sunday Mass.

It is truly an act of public freedom. As Catholics we have a moral obligation to attend Mass each Sunday and holy day of obligation. But in truth no one can force us to go. It truly is a free choice.

 

However, if we stop and reflect in the light of faith, we understand that the Mass is a deeply personal encounter with Almighty God. The presence of Jesus in the Eucharist unites us to His sacrifice and to the forgiveness of sins. By worthily receiving Him, we are transformed each time into the image of Jesus and therefore into what we are meant to be for eternity in heaven.

 

Our presence at Mass is a personal acceptance of this eternal reality. It is also a public witness to the goodness of joining the assembly of believers in praying in adoration of God and for the world.

 

The number of people attending Mass continues to decline. In this period after the COVID-19 pandemic, in most places those numbers have not returned to pre-pandemic levels. But the pandemic is only one of the tests of faith associated with Mass attendance. There are many others, both personal and societal.

 

Our Catholic faith, the gift of human freedom and Sunday Mass all are a united part of a whole, which cannot be separated. Ultimately, they come together in the greatest good which is the freely chosen union with God who calls us for eternal life with Him.