How do you suppose Jesus “felt” hanging on the cross for three hours for the salvation of mankind? Do you think he “liked” it?
I don’t ask those questions for the purpose of making you feel bad; I honestly believe them to be questions you should meditate upon because I believe one problem here might be a misunderstanding of the purpose of going to Mass. If going to Mass is about getting together once a week with a group of people to sing, say some prayers, and have coffee and doughnuts after, it would be understandable for someone to feel like he might have better ways to spend his Sunday mornings. But that isn’t why Catholics go to Mass.
We go to Mass because the Mass is the re-presentation in time and space of Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary. Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection are made present on the altar during Mass. By attending Mass, congregants are gathering around their Lord’s cross, much in the same way some of his disciples chose to do on that first Good Friday (the rest broke and ran). When we are present at Mass, we are standing vigil with the Lord in his agony, worshipping him, and receiving him sacramentally in Communion. If Christians do not “feel like” being present for
that, can they possibly consider themselves disciples (followers) of Jesus Christ?
If you continue to be unable to “want” to go to Mass, I urge you to read the resources linked below and to spend some time meditating on a crucifix.
Recommended reading:
Mass Appeal by Jimmy Akin
The How-To Book of the Mass by Michael Dubruiel
