Mark jumped in the car and picked dinner before heading to his grandma's house. He pulled out the key to his grandma's house as he walked up the steps. Just before unlocking the door, he called his grandma on the phone. "Hi grandma, it's me, Mark. I picked up dinner for us. I will let myself in, so stay on the couch."
"Oh, thank, Mark. That was so sweet of you."
Mark was inside and unpacking dinner on the kitchen table two minutes later. "That smells really good!" said grandma as she emerged from the family room.
"Your favorite, French Onion soup in a soup bowl. I got Mac & Cheese. How are you feeling today?"
"Much better today. The doctor switched my medications, and it's working this time. I feel bad I missed Mass yesterday."
"Grandma, you were sick. God doesn't expect you to go when you're sick."
"I know, but I miss being at Mass. I watched it on tv, but I prefer to be there in person. You know what I mean?" Mark shoveled another forkful of Mac & Cheese into his mouth instead of answering. "So tell me what your priest said in the homily."
Mark knew better than to tell his grandma a story. "I didn't really get a chance to go to Mass this week," Mark said aloud and inwardly said, "nor the last six months."
"Oh, really?" Granda asked, "What were you doing? Did you have to work all weekend?"
"No. I didn't have to work this weekend. I just worked all week long, and I needed a break."
"What kind of work do you do that makes you feel like you need a break from God? If you ask me, it sounds like you need a new job."
"I didn't mean it like that. My job is fine. I need time to unwind and get caught up on things."
Grandma slowly took a few spoonfuls of her soup while considering her response. "I never felt like giving the Lord one hour a week was too much."
"Grandma, things are just different these days. Hardly any of my friends go to church anymore. I can still be a good person and not go to church. I still pray all the time."
"I'm glad you are still praying, but being a good person is not the same as being a good disciple. Mark going to Mass is really important."
"Grandma, I know it's important to you, but I just don't really get anything out of it."
"I have never understood when people say that. What could be more precious than reaching the Body of Christ? What about all the graces the Lord blesses you with. That alone is more than any of us deserve. So let me ask you something, Mark. When you come here to visit me, do you do it to get something from me?"
"Of course not, Grandma. I like being with you."
"What about your parents? Do you get something out of every conversation with them? I know I don't. Sometimes we talk about ordinary stuff, but I still like being with them. Do you see what I'm getting at Mark? We spend time with the people we love because we like being with them. We like being near them. We definitely have had some great times together, but lots of times, we don't really do anything special. But my life is better because I have kept the people I love and the relationships I value close to me. Sometimes, I feel my heart soaring when I go to Mass, but many times I don't. Sometimes the priest's homily is exactly what I need to hear, but sometimes it barely holds my interest. But it doesn't matter if I think the priest is interesting or if the music is inspiring, you know what matters?"
"What?"
"What matters is my attitude. I go to Mass because I want to praise and thank God. I want to be near Him. I love Him. I'm not there to be entertained or to obtain some spiritual high. I go to Mass to give, not to get. I know life can be busy, but you should never be too busy for those you love. Trust me, Mark, being too busy for God is a bad move. I hope missing Mass doesn't become a habit for you. That would make me really sad."
"Grandma, please, don't put me on a guilt trip."
"Oh, that wasn't a guilt trip. I mean, I will probably be praying on my knees for an extra hour for you every day for your mind to be open to God no matter how much my arthritis hurts me," Granda said with a smile.
Mark started laughing, "Ok, ok, you win. Spare your knees. I promise next week I'll get to Mass. Will that make you happy?"
"Yes, it would," Granda said, laughing. "Now, let me eat this soup before it gets too cold."
-Susan
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