PEWS FOR THE PEWLESS

There are thousands of reasons to leave the Catholic Church, but there is only one reason to stay away, namely, not knowing Jesus in the Eucharist. I have heard so many. “Father, I don’t
go anymore because the Church is so judgy,” but there is only one judgment that matters, from the silence of the tabernacle in every church. “Father, I get nothing out of Church,” but we go
not for something, but for Someone. “Father, I was hurt,” but there is only one Person that can heal you, and only one Medicine. In all of our lives, Catholic religious observance is most difficult when belief in the Eucharist wavers; for if everyone really knew and believed in the power of the Eucharist, Sunday observance would be easy.



Now, a temptation can arise in us Catholics to win over converts. “Father, we just need to make Mass more exciting and relevant, and then people will come,” but it is a lie; for people may come, but they never stay. People come for shows, but they only stay for Jesus. What people need is more Jesus, not more entertainment. For each of the thousands of reasons to leave the
Catholic Church, there are equally thousands of reasons to come, but there is only one Reason to stay in the Catholic Church. It is the Eucharist. How did the early Christians make converts? They preached the gospel of Jesus Christ who died and rose. People who accepted this message were baptized and then brought to the “breaking of the bread” which is the early name
for Mass (Acts 2:4142). Why did people stay then? It was the conviction of the dying and rising of Jesus, and this is precisely what the Mass is: it is the saving sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus shared with us.



For us, then, on the battlefield of potential converts and family members who have fallen away. What are we missing for those empty seats in Church? How do we get them back? Listen closely to people’s excuses, not what they say, but rather why they say it. The reason hiding beneath can be guilt, worldliness, hatred, fear, rationalization, and we know that the answer is the Eucharist at Mass, but the pewless often do not know. What they need is someone to really listen and accompany them to the pew. They need someone like John to stand with them by the Cross. Preaching the dying and rising of Jesus is not a oneoff thing. Think of the years that your parents walked you to Church and slowly fed you the mysteries of the Eucharist. Paul wrote letters for years, and Jesus taught people how to pray for three years. Bring someone to the adoration chapel, teach them about the death and resurrection of Jesus which occurs at every sacrament.



This Pentecost, ask the Holy Spirit to give you the words to convict people of the gospel message, pure and raw of Jesus dying and rising, of Jesus in the Eucharist.