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Gaudete, dammit!

     I was not at my home church for mass this morning (not that I feel like I have a home church since becoming Popish), but nevertheless my mood was buoyant.  After all, how could it not be.  Here we were standing as brothers and sisters commemorating one of the top five greatest events in the history of reality: the Incarnation.  Yet looking out and listening to the participation of my Roman brothers and sisters, one would think that something less than mundane had happened.  Something BORING, even.  We gathered to remember the God of the universe condescending to take on human dress and all we can do is half-heartedly sing and mumble ancient creeds that people died for?  I remained buoyant despite the lack of mutual awe.
     Annie Dillard said waggishly that when people go to church they ought to be wearing crash helmets.  Do they really know who or what they are summoning?  Something more terrible, merciful, and real than the Great and Powerful Oz for certain.  Lest my Protestant brothers and sisters smugly mention something about ritual and zombified believers I'd like to bring their attention to the fact that many Protestant churches weren't even open for their Master's birthday because it didn't fall on a Sunday.  Following that logic, they wouldn't celebrate Easter if it wasn't fixed on a Sunday either. 
     Something mysterious and beautiful occurred a long time ago.  If you believe that, shouldn't you at least have a smile on your face on the anniversary of that day?  Nearly the whole world acknowledges something about this day.  Man up and rejoice!  Simply supporting the economy isn't a good enough reason to go to Midnight mass and then back up again at 9:30 to stand around, kneel, and mumble.

Gaudete!  Christus est natus!
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Comments

Unknown said…
Love it....My new Unitarian church was quite celebratory, but then again I find myself walking around with an awkward smile on my face quite often as I stand in awe of God.
December 26, 2012 at 8:47 AM
Scot said…
How do Unitarians celebrate Christmas?
December 27, 2012 at 5:40 PM
cultul said…
Try the Byzantine Rite of the Catholic Church or the Latin Mass. There you will find true Catholicism - not the watered down, Protestantized version celebrated by the post-conciliar Novus Ordo crowd.
January 3, 2013 at 1:59 PM
Scot said…
Cultul,
I do visit a Byzantine rite church in my area on occasion. I love it, except for the awful off-key singing.
January 3, 2013 at 10:17 PM
Wayne Abernathy said…
Nice post. Important point 1 is be there to worship. Important point 2 (which can't happen without point 1) try to take in what it all means. Again, you can't get to point 2 without point 1.
January 5, 2013 at 10:25 AM
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