Saturday Morning Keynote and Mass

The highest form of worship is praying the Mass.

We started this morning with an impactful talk from Sr. M. Karolyn, FSGM, about our capacity for receiving God’s love at Mass. She asked us to reflect on what distracts us at Mass, noting that we all get distracted. How do we show up for Mass? Do we show up with our hearts open and ready to receive? Are we expanding our capacity to enter into the greatest mystery of our faith? “There’s a receptivity that’s anticipatory,” she says, “Someone is coming.”

Next, Sr. M. Karolyn invited us to pray this Mass in the way many priests are reminded to celebrate it: as if it is our first, last, and only Mass. How would our participation change if this is how we entered into Mass, with reverence, intentionality, and joy?

Finally, Sister explained some of the “why’s” behind what we do at Mass, down to the offertory procession, that seems so simple, yet is significant. Those bringing up the offertory are representing us all, bringing our raw materials to God to transform them into something only He can create. What are we bringing to the altar today to be transformed by God’s love?

Homily – Fr. Rufino

His mercy endures forever. Do you ever feel like that’s not true for you? Like God will eventually get tired of you? Or maybe you’ve thought that you have to make sure to check the boxes and earn His love? What if you don’t ‘feel’ loved? Through personal experience and prayer, Fr. Rufino spoke truth into all of these lies. Fr. Rufino’s prayer to God was, “I just want people to see how good they are.” God responded, “Why don’t you believe it about yourself?”

How would you respond to this? Fr. Rufino reminded us that God’s love will always show up, no matter who else does or does not. It’s not dependent on our emotional response. God’s love will always show up. It endures forever.