I’m Done Pretending Everything’s Fine
Look, I’ve been a Catholic all my life. Baptized at St. Mary’s in Brooklyn, confirmed at 13, and honestly, I’ve seen alot of changes. But something’s been bugging me for years now. It’s not the music, not the homilies (though, let’s be real, Father O’Malley could use some work), it’s the fact that we’re all just… sitting there.
I was at Mass last Tuesday, and I turned to my friend, let’s call him Marcus, and said, “Marcus, when was the last time you felt like you actually did something meaningful here?” He looked at me, shrugged, and said, “I don’t know, Mary. It’s just… yeah.”
Which… yeah. Fair enough.
We’re Not Here to Just Listen
I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love a good homily. But when was the last time you left Mass and felt like you could change the world? Not just “be nice to your neighbor,” but actually make a difference? I’m talking about the kind of stuff that keeps you up at night because you’re so fired up about it.
I remember back in ’98, I went to this conference in Austin. There was this speaker, Dr. Linda Chen, and she talked about how faith isn’t just about what happens on Sundays. It’s about how you live your life every single day. And honestly, that stuck with me.
But here’s the thing: we’re not talking about it. We’re not even trying to figure out how to make that happen. We’re just showing up, sitting down, and going through the motions.
Let’s Talk About the Elephant in the Church
I was having coffee with a colleague named Dave last month. We were at this little place on 5th, and I brought up the idea of getting more involved in the community. Not just within the church, but out there, in the real world. And Dave looked at me like I had two heads.
“Mary,” he said, “we’re not built for that. We’re built for this.” And he gestured around the church like that was the be-all and end-all.
But here’s the thing, Dave: we’re not built for anything if we don’t try. We’re not built for anything if we just sit here and wait for someone else to do the work.
What Are We Afraid Of?
I think part of the problem is that we’re scared. Scared of failing, scared of looking foolish, scared of stepping out of our comfort zones. But you know what? That’s no excuse.
I remember when I was in college, I volunteered at this soup kitchen downtown. It was terrifying at first. I didn’t know what I was doing, I felt completely out of my depth. But you know what? I did it anyway. And it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
And that’s what we need to be doing. We need to be stepping out of our comfort zones and actually making a difference in the world.
But How?
I’m not saying we need to completely overhaul the way we do things. But we need to start somewhere. We need to start talking about the things that matter, the things that keep us up at night. We need to start trending topics popular discussions that actually matter to us.
And we need to start doing something about it. Whether that’s volunteering at a local shelter, organizing a community event, or just reaching out to someone who needs help, we need to be taking action.
Because honestly, I’m tired of sitting on the pews. I’m tired of going through the motions. I’m ready to do something that actually matters.
And Yes, I’m Being Dramatic
Look, I know I’m coming off strong here. But someone’s gotta say it. Someone’s gotta shake things up a bit. Because if we don’t, who will?
So let’s start talking. Let’s start doing. Let’s start making a difference in the world, one step at a time.
And if anyone has any ideas, I’m all ears. Let’s grab coffee and chat about it. Because honestly, I think we can do better than this.
About the Author
Mary O’Connor has been a writer for over 20 years, with a focus on faith and spirituality. She currently lives in Brooklyn with her cat, Mr. Whiskers, and spends her free time volunteering at the local animal shelter. She’s a firm believer in the power of community and the importance of taking action.
