So we gather to celebrate the Eucharist together. It is not a matter of ‘going to Mass’ or ‘attending Mass’. Jesus tells us it is something we do together in his memory. What we do takes all of us. Each baptised person is needed here. We come to place ourselves besides brothers and sisters. In this way we proclaim ourselves to be the body of Christ, preparing ourselves to live as Christ all week long. God called us in Christ through baptism to be his Church. We belong to him. Baptism made us his. God’s Word and the Eucharist we share make us his. That is why blessed water is placed by the doors. We take this water on our hand and with it sign ourselves with the cross. We remind ourselves that by baptism Christ has made us his brothers and sisters and brothers and sisters of one another.
We are not merely a group of people who happen to decide to come to the same place at the same time. So it is important to speak to one another, to try to get to know one another, to reach out our hand to one another and perhaps even sing with one another! ‘There are indeed many members but one body,’ (1 Cor. 12:20)
When we come to church on Sunday what do we do? We are sometimes called ‘the congregation’ because we congregate. The gathering is sometimes called ‘the assembly’ because we assemble. So we congregate or assemble. Both of these words mean to get ourselves together. When we board a bus with a friend we probably sit together but we don’t usually need to pay much attention to anyone else on the bus. But when we come to Mass it is not the same as boarding the bus! Or at least, it shouldn’t be. St Paul somewhere hints that our coming together is like a boat that is rowed by everyone on board. That is what liturgy literally means – something that is done by everybody together – work that is done by all the people. Different people have different roles but the deed itself – such as moving the boat – is done by everybody. There are no passengers for the boat is carrying the most precious treasure – Christ the King. So when we enter we should congregate to make a congregation. We should assemble in such a way as to make an assembly. There are many times when people come in to pray alone. There are lots of times to pray alone wherever we are. But Sunday Mass – or indeed Mass at any time – is what we do together. Rowing the boat is not only our activity – it defines us.
In our church the pews surround the altar and quite a few are very close to it. Some people would be quite uncomfortable about taking front places. Like celibacy – or indeed marriage – it is not for everybody. And we are expected to row the boat wherever we sit. But more people could perhaps make a conscious decision to sit nearer the altar. Not that there is some special holiness about being physically close to the front but it is important to get closer to one another. So depending on our mobility, or whatever, we might try moving away from the entrance. If a bench further up is empty we might try sitting in the middle of it rather than at the very end so as to make it easier for others to come in. It might encourage others to sit beside us. We should also prepare for the situation that will arise when there are fewer Masses and a more crowded church. Similarly nodding in welcome, especially to those we don’t know (yet!) all makes for hospitality. Greeting people warmly helps to build up the body of Christ and celebrate his Kingship throughout the year. Leaving lots of space near the entrance to the church would be something that those who come to Mass when it is about to begin would greatly appreciate. They would feel welcomed and regarded as members of the family. What a good beginning that would be to our Eucharistic celebration.
