We’ve all had those mornings where the clock moves faster than we do, leaving us racing to make it to Mass on time. But then, God God can move obstacles.
When Time Becomes Our Greatest Excuse
The Holy Mass holds a central place in the Catholic faith. Sundays are holy days of obligation, where all Catholics worldwide are encouraged to gather in reverence and worship as a community.
It is the highest form of prayer for us—where we participate in the holy sacrifice of Jesus. In addition, the Mass provides an opportunity to reflect on the blessings of the past week—encouraging gratitude for God’s grace.
As part of the liturgy, gifts are offered, the Word of God is proclaimed, the homily circling around the gospel is preached and the faithful receive spiritual nourishment through the Eucharist, which we Catholics believe to be the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ.
Why Faith Requires Intentional Commitment
Contrary to how the faith is viewed by others—it is more than just a ritual. The Mass is a profound spiritual experience that cultivates a deeper relationship with God, the Father, strengthening the community of believers, and reminding each one of us our shared mission to live out the faith in daily life.
Standing, sitting, and kneeling—all have significance in the order of the Mass.
We stand to pray in unison and pay reverence to the proclaimed Eternal Word of God. We sit to actively listen to the homily. We kneel to show respect for the consecration taking place universally, as Mass is celebrated all over the world.
It is in these holy moments that the bread and wine are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ.
By participating in this sacred act during the Mass, we Catholics reaffirm our commitment to Christ, profess our faith, and prepare to confront the challenges of the world with renewed strength and grace, especially as the priest blesses the congregation in the concluding rites.
Choosing Mass When Life Feels Too Full
Alright, so here is where my sharing starts—
On October 6th this year, just last Sunday, I decided to do my quick go-live video on my Facebook page. Why do I do these live videos?
Well, it's because we are doing this team go-live challenge in our global digital business. This is part of unleashing our courage to do these videos, and also for our followers and supporters on Facebook to get to know us a little bit better.
Alright, so feeling confident that I’d finish the video in under ten minutes, I thought I still had ten to fifteen minutes to get ready, so I went ahead and did it.
However, the video ended up lasting nearly fifteen minutes. Hurriedly, I rushed upstairs to change. By the time we stepped out of the house, we only had six minutes to get to church.
Or so I thought...
The Quiet Cost of Letting Time Slip Away
We were all quiet in the car, especially me, as we focused on getting to Mass on time with the little time we had left. I normally would turn on the stereo to listen to some songs on our way to church, but not that Sunday.
Oh yes, I was guilty. I was guilty because this wasn't the appropriate attitude before going to Mass.
However, here is what happened, though...
If I'm not mistaken, we have around twelve to fifteen traffic lights from our home to the church—yes, a little too many!
Imagine if all the lights turned red! Not good, right? If I happened to be a nail-biter, I'd be biting my nails from the moment we left the driveway all the way to the church.
Not a pretty sight, I know...
Remembering What Truly Matters Most
Here’s the thing: the plan was that as soon as we got to the church premises, my husband would drop us off by the door, and then he’d go find a parking space.
Parking can get tight in the church parking area since it is an old church located in a very constricted area with no room for expansion.
But then, much to our surprise, not one traffic turned red! Ooh-la-la!
Even more surprising, as soon as we got there, a car pulled out of the parking lot—just three cars away from the church door! Were we relieved, or what!
The weight of guilt that occupied my thoughts was lifted, and we couldn't help but share our joy that God took care of our drive to church. I'd like to think that it’s important to Him that His business is important to us.
October 6th is my mother's birthday. She's in the care of the Lord now. Going to Mass on that Sunday gives it another layer of importance.
We saw God's divine accommodation, ensuring we felt good about not being late for Mass, knowing that I don't like arriving late.
God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good! And yes, That has been His gift to my Mom on her birthday celebration in heaven. Amen.
And remember, wherever you are in the world reading this, thank you for being part of this journey. Thank you for reading! If this story speaks to your heart, I’d love to connect with you on Facebook.
Many Blessings, Emilie
A Note from my Heart
I’m Emilie, a seeker of faith who finds God in the quiet pews and the divine surprises of everyday life. I write these reflections to invite you into a slower, more soulful way of seeing the world.