Ozzy Osbourne v. Jesus
You have made us for yourself, O Lord. And our hearts are restless until they rest in You.
–St. Augustine
We have a new priest at my parish named Fr. Ron who is helping our pastor with masses every weekend. I’ve only had the chance to hear three of his homilies so far, but he is really good at driving home a point that I can use in my daily life. A couple of weeks ago, he asked us a question during the sermon, “Last year during the Covid pandemic when you weren’t under an obligation to go to mass, why did you go to mass anyways?” Then he really challenged us. “Think about your answer to that question. Give it some real thought. Then go and tell your friends and family your answer.” His hope is that by doing this it may convince some people who stopped going to mass to come back.
So, I went home with that homily bouncing around in my head. I began to figure out the reasons that I chose to attend mass during that time. But, as usual, I struggled to talk about this to anyone. One of two things tends to happen when I discuss anything related to my faith. Either I get so completely tongue-tied that I cannot get myself to bring up anything related to the topic. Or, if I do talk about it, it ends up being a superficial discussion about hot-button issues or theology. I never really share anything personal about the nature of my faith.
The other day as I was praying in the adoration chapel at a church near our house, I thought about what I could do to better share my faith. That’s when the idea hit me to start my own blog. I enjoy writing and am much better expressing myself in writing than when I talk to people. I prayed about it over the next week and still felt this was something God wanted me to do. It was a big jump for me to try something like this but I decided to follow the Lord’s lead and write my first post about why I went to mass over the last year.
The answer for me boils down to one thing---I truly believe that Jesus is present in the Eucharist. Back in high school, one of our priests, Fr. John Putka, would offer communion in the school chapel just prior to lunch. He would have a short three-minute service. To rouse up interest, he would say,
“If Ozzy Osbourne (keep in mind that this was the 80’s) was playing a concert right now in the school chapel, you know you’d all be going. But you’ll pass on going to see and receive the Son of God.”
He had a great way of using humor to drive home a point and put things in perspective.
Throughout my life, I have gone to pray in churches and chapels where Christ is present in the Eucharist. In fact, right now I’m sitting in an adoration chapel as I write this. There is something palpably different about praying (or writing) in the real presence of Jesus. There is a sense of peace that is indescribable. I can enter the chapel feeling anxious and confused about many things. But I almost always leave with a sense of peace and clarity. St. Augustine put it better than anyone ever has, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord. And our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” In my busy life where there are a million little thoughts running through my mind each day, Jesus in the Eucharist is my peace. This is the primary reason that I went to mass during the pandemic and the reason that I will keep going. Because Jesus is really there, He’s truly present.
If you’re skeptical or if you have never really experienced Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist, I encourage you to go spend some time with him. It doesn’t matter if you’re Catholic or not. Just go into any Catholic church and find the tabernacle. The tabernacle is often made of brass and located behind the altar or may have its own private chapel. There is a red candle near the tabernacle. If the candle is lit, then you know that the tabernacle contains the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Spend some time in quiet prayer. Talk to Jesus about your life and any problems you may be having. I think you will find Jesus there in a way that you have never experienced before.