THE MASS HAS ENDED, GO FORTH

By Theodore John

We are Christians because Christ lives within us, works through us, and therefore we live our daily lives for and because of Christ. We go through the routine of going to Mass and running through all the formalities of this celebration. Sunday comes and Sunday goes. Yet another Sunday dawns then dusk sets in and mass is over. Now what? Our lives continue go on however mundane they may appear to be at any given moment. Each week or day, at the culmination of our celebration of the Mass, we are invited, or perhaps compelled, by the priest to "go in peace to love and serve our God," but what does this really mean for us between each celebration of the Eucharist? Has it just become a group of words uttered to indicate the end the Mass? Doesn't it have some significance as to how we should live our lives after mass is over?

When we venture into the wider community, people should know that we are Christians by our love, empathy, peaceful nature, and through actions that radiate these virtues. The following are a few guidelines for living the Christian life during the week and outside the "confinement" of the physical church. This list however is not by any means exhausted.

1. Go! You are sent, so the least that you can do is accept the challenge of standing up to and facing a world that falls short of idealism. With God no mission is impossible. Don't just exist. With each God-given breath, live!

2. Shine! How many of us own name brand gear? We are proud when people notice the Nike © on us, but often, we are too embarrassed to begin to allow others to see God in us. We should be proud and allow God's intentions to be manifested through our lives. Do something Christian-like and as much as you can, be an ambassador for Christ. Be an inspiration!

3. Be authentic! Are we being true to ourselves, others, and, ultimately, our God? It's easy to say that we're Christians, but are we living contrary to our sayings, thus living a double life? I see it much too often. Many people proclaim to be followers of Christ, going to Mass each week. They pull the wool over our eyes and, at the same time look around to see if anyone is noticing the big sum of money they're dropping into the collection plate. Who are you fooling? I'm more interested in the way you relate to the people you encounter in your daily living. Help for the sake of helping, not for what it can do for your image.

4. Love! We are commanded to love our neighbors as ourselves (Gal. 5:14), which means that we would do for no other less than what we would do for ourselves. This is a challenge. It's easier said than done. However, with God, no mission is impossible. We must be at peace with ourselves, others, and nature. Subsequently, this will allow us to maintain a peaceful and loving relationship with our God.

As I reflect on these issues, I am reminded of the popular song, "I'm a one-day Christian." If memory serves me right, the lyrics go something like this:

"I'm a one-day Christian, I'm a one day Christian. Six days a week"…la la la la la la la la…

Well, clearly, I'm not as young as I used to be. My memory seems to have failed me. Nevertheless, the essence of the song highlights the double life mentioned before in which people profess to be Christians on Sundays but then live as if there were no God for six days. That is so wrong!

Our Christian values should be ever present in all aspects of our lives. Let us not forget that we are sent. We can't just expect to receive and not give in return. When we fail to go, shine, be authentic, or love, we fail to respond to the invitation to "go in peace to love and serve our God." We then fail to be Christians - Catholic Christians sent on a mission. Let us venture into the week like candles, giving of ourselves to produce light for all, particularly in these gloomy times. At Mass, we receive the light of Christ. It should, and must, be our duty to use that light to shine so that others may be able to see.

When we are sent out, we are not just sent to exist within the "darkness", but to live life to the fullest in the light of Christ and in accordance with the Church's teachings. I challenge you today to reflect on your response to this invitation and make the necessary changes. Go forth!