Whine and Cheese

“But it’s too hot out to do that…”

“But I don’t like this flavor…”

“This internet connection is soooo slooow…”

“It’s too far to walk…”

“These checkout clerks are moving like turtles…”

“There’s too much traffic…”

“Father’s homilies last forever…”

Can you hear the high-pitched tone in a person’s voice? 

Our society is all about instant gratification and indulgence.  It really isn’t surprising, when you consider the technology to which we have access.  No more waiting for a phone call.  Text!  No more waiting to process photos.  Instagram!  No more long waits for meals.  Door Dash!  No more long walks through a mall.  Amazon!  If it’s something we want, we simply have to click, hit “send”, and have it delivered to our door.  We don’t even have to leave our homes.

In this atmosphere, it’s also not surprising to see this attitude in the Church.  We want our instant “fix” (whether weekly or biannually) within the set time limits.  “Just one hour, Father Smith, and no more!  Let me fulfill my duty and get on with my plans for the day.”  Reconciliation, when we find time in our busy schedules, should be a quick, drive-through experience.  “Give me grace and forgiveness, and let’s be done with it!”

It seems nothing is ever really quite good enough for us.  The priest is too serious or too flippant.  The Mass is too upbeat or too solemn.  The music is too old or too modern.  The homily is too shallow or too hard to understand.  The people around me are too friendly or too unwelcoming.  The parish is too child-friendly or too inconsiderate of parents.  The liturgy is too traditional or too contemporary.  The parish expects too much of me or no one ever asks me to do anything!

As a very wise priest has reminded me over and over again, though, it’s not about US.  It really isn’t.  Yes, Jesus died on the cross for US.  Yes, He loves US.  Yes, He wants US to go to Mass.  Yes, He wants US to confess our sins.  Yes, He wants US to have joy.  But does He want US to “feel good” about every experience?  Hmmm.

Mass and the Christian life are really about HIM.  It’s about the sacrifice HE made on the cross.  It’s about showing HIM to the world around us, whether we are interacting with others face-to-face or online.  It is about letting HIM love the world through us.  It’s about us coming to HIM, humbly, and becoming more and more like HIM every day. 

I challenge myself and my readers:  look outside yourself today.  Look at a crucifix, ponder its meaning, and let your life be less about whining and more about letting Jesus show!