In every liturgy (public prayer of the Church) God is working. This is a very simple sentence packed with meaning. No matter what our preferences might be — temperature, padding on the pews, architecture of the pews, style of the preacher, genre of music, instrumentation employed — in every liturgy, God 

is working. 

 

This month I’d like to focus on who is at work. 

 

Mass begins long before Mass begins. Whatever priest is saying Mass had to learn how to crawl, his mother had to teach him how to hold a spoon and he had to graduate the third grade. Much later, he had to pack up, move out, go to seminary, pass his classes, get called to Sacred Orders and more. So, whatever Mass you’re at, it actually began long before it “began.” 

 

At the same time, the organist had to take organ lessons as a kid, the parish staff member had to order the altar bread from the liturgical supply store and the volunteer sacristan had to arrive at least thirty minutes early to set the bread out prior to consecration. People had to wake up and get ready, get dressed, get the kids in the car and drive to the church. Lots has been going on before anyone even makes the Sign of the Cross during the Introductory Rites. 

 

From all time, God knew this would happen. From all time His perfect and providential plan was to gather this very assembly together for Christian worship. Perhaps this exact group has never been gathered before and perhaps they never will be again. But God knew this group would be called together. 

 

As this community comes together for the liturgical celebration, it’s a great reminder that it’s not about the priest. It’s not about the choir. It’s not about the congregation. It’s about God! God is working. 

 

The Second Vatican Council defines the liturgy as the priestly work of Jesus Christ (Sacrosanctum concilium, 7). In this sense we recall that it’s not any of our doing. No matter how beautiful the building, no matter how skilled the preaching, no matter how sublime the music, God is working. It’s Jesus who is at work in every Mass, molding us, shaping us, forming us into the men and women we are called to be. 

 

Pope Francis tells us in Desiderio Desideravi (60) that liturgical silence is not an opportune moment for silent reflection during the Church’s public worship. That is to say, silence at Mass is not intended for “personal prayer time.” Rather, liturgical silence creates a silent space in which we can recall that it is God who is at work and not ourselves. This month I’d invite you. Watch God. Watch Him at work. Let Him come to you in the Mass and be amazed at what He’s doing! 

 

Adoro Te Devote!