I’m presuming you’re talking about at school. And even though as a priest, I love coming to you as Jesus went out preaching, away from the synagogue. But it’s very difficult to create the environment of “sacredness” or “holiness” in the gym where you play volleyball and basketball – that we experience at church, in the environment which is meant to stimulate us [allow us to be thinking about] holy things, Jesus and the saints.
My answer for you is the same as I have to tell myself, and as I’ve said before – I too get distracted at Mass: we have to keep trying our best to pay attention, we just have to try harder. I appreciate your honesty, because that takes a lot to admit that you’re wrong. You know that your teachers tell you to be quiet and stop, but that’s for a couple of reasons; one, it’s rude and I can tell you that I’ve been celebrating Mass and distracted by students talking. Secondly, what’s offered at Mass is for you, and so that’s disappointing.
If you find yourself at Mass on Sunday here at Church, looking for friends, good for you! Keep looking, that’s part of what we’re here for, to be here with people who share faith and help us in our faith journey. We just have to keep trying to be attentive at the sacred part, especially those prayers when by the Holy Spirit, Jesus enters the bread and wine and they become the Body and Blood! This is the most amazing and truly awesome moment in all of our religious experience.
