In Jerusalem you can walk up the same stairs the Holy Family—Jesus, Mary, and Joseph—walked up to get into the temple. Something striking about those stairs is that they’re uneven. Some are short. Some are long. That’s not an accident. The architects designed those stairs so you’d be mindful of what you were doing as you approached the dwelling place of God. If you weren’t thinking about your steps, you’d trip.
When you go to Mass you’re approaching something holier than the Old Testament temple. I know…it’s often a mad dash just to get there on time! But try to be mindful of your steps. If you can, show up five minutes early to quiet your heart. Look up that week’s Gospel and read it before you get there. Bring a journal to jot down something that touched you in the homily.
God shows up at every Mass. If you want to get the most out of it, make sure you show up too. Not just physically, but mentally and spiritually.
