Churches have always been built for encounters with God. It is and always will be a special place – different from other buildings. About 15 years ago, after Mass, an elderly lady approached me. Grandmothers are very kind women who assure the young that they will take care of everything. It was about the baptism of a grandson or granddaughter. Right from the start, I politely declined the grandmother: “You are very kind, but I need to speak with the child's parents.” She was persistent and said that she would manage everything. So, she forced me into dialogue: “Are they having a wedding in the church?” Silence. “Do they at least have a civil wedding?” Silence. “Do they ever go to church?” Here, there was already a reaction. “And what is the church for? I can pray anywhere, even in the forest or in the meadow.” I smiled openly and said: “Ma'am, I have the experience that if a person does not pray in church, they do not pray at all.” The lady was good. She also smiled and replied: “Well, you are right.” We said goodbye with a smile.
Do our prayers and especially participation in Sunday Mass have any influence on our lives? They do, even if we do not know how. I remember the story of an officer on a large tourist ship. They had a chapel there, and every day early in the morning, a priest celebrated Mass for them. The officer was present at every Mass. Then he was on duty and was incredibly harsh on his subordinates, who were cleaning the deck. Until one could no longer bear it and directly asked him: “Sir, you are at Holy Mass every morning, yet you are so terrible. How do you explain that?” He replied: “There is such anger in me that if I weren't at the meeting with the Almighty, I would throw you all overboard!”
Fr. Ondřej
Published in the Parish newsletter June 2025 {filefile_7620}
