Inviting Someone Back to Mass, Back Into the Fold
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...Jesus is a master at bringing people together and bringing people closer to Him. At times, we might not even recognize the deep need to be in a spiritual community, but Jesus does. In the Gospel of John, the Lord illustrates his desire to be with us as he says, “And I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So, there shall be one flock, one shepherd” (John 10:16). Jesus is always looking for ways to bring us close to him if we have gone our own way or have never been part of His community.
Jesus is a master at bringing people together and bringing people closer to Him. At times, we might not even recognize the deep need to be in a spiritual community, but Jesus does. In the Gospel of John, the Lord illustrates his desire to be with us as he says, “And I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So, there shall be one flock, one shepherd” (John 10:16). Jesus is always looking for ways to bring us close to him if we have gone our own way or have never been part of His community.
Why is it in Jesus’ heart to draw people to himself? It is because he desires to help us experience the great care and love of the heavenly Father. He wants to share his words of comfort, joy, and love.
When we think about the holy Mass, we may be accustomed to thinking about certain aspects like the music, the priest, the homily, the community, or in certain cases, the lack thereof, as well as receiving our weekly Communion. However, at the heart of the Mass, we find Jesus calling everyone to Himself, to dine and recline with Him, to listen personally to his words. He has already initiated this relationship, and we are called to respond. Before we consider the task of inviting others back to Mass, or to join our worshiping community for the first time, it would be beneficial to reflect on the great gift of which we are privileged to partake. Let us dispose of our hearts to be converted and embrace Him. As Jesus says, “Blessed are the pure of heart for they shall see God,” (Matthew 4:8).
It is from the great joy of encountering Christ that motivates us to go and share with others what we have experienced. The greatest advertisement is not going to be on a billboard, a video, or an announcement, but, rather, our hearts, which have been converted and have encountered the loving and living God. Therefore, ask God for this grace and then take the next step to make the invitation to those around you. Be not afraid, as you won’t be inviting them to an ordinary community. If collectively we embrace the gift of Jesus and tell others about Him, the Lord will be faithful and will do His part. However, when we fail to approach the invitation from a spiritual perspective, and focus primarily on logistics, obligation, or some external motivation, we may fall short.
As Jesus said, “The world will pass away but my words are everlasting.” (Matthew 24:35) Jesus can transform us and is willing to do so. So, let’s tell others about this.
Jesus has an everlasting love for us, and we must lead our own hearts to that eternal well. Our love then grows beyond our own capacity, and it will flow over to others. That is when joy takes over and we can’t help but want others to experience the goodness of our heavenly Father at the altar.
Dr. Armando Chavarria is the Executive Director of Missionary Discipleship for the Diocese of St. Petersburg.
