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Restoring Reverence
By Steven Eisler
Each weekend, I enter our beautiful parish as one of the few young adults feeling deep gratitude for the gift of the Mass. It’s a sacred time, a moment when Heaven and earth meet, and we are invited into the presence of the living God. Yet, I often find myself distracted. Not by the liturgy itself, but by what’s happening around it. Phones buzz, quiet conversations erupt, some arrive late, others leave early, and there is a casualness in dress and demeanour that can feel out of place. It’s not about perfection or pretending to be someone we’re not, but I wonder if we’ve lost sight of what (and Who) we’re really here for.
About four years ago, I made a life-changing decision to turn my life around, leaving behind toxic behaviours and patterns I had long indulged in. I started from scratch: removing harmful habits and relationships, and focusing on rebuilding my physical, mental, financial, and spiritual health, which eventually led to a renewed relationship with God. Looking back, the order of these changes was truly divine. I learned to trust the process and embrace God’s timing. My mind became a sponge, absorbing knowledge across many subjects with a genuine desire to understand as much as possible. This included reading the Bible cover to cover and a deep dive into Apologetics and Polemics!
While I try not to dwell on the past, I can see how far I’ve come from who I used to be. Accepting God back into my life and building a firm foundational relationship with Him has shaped me into a confident, well-balanced individual who’s no longer afraid to pursue what truly matters in life or to lead by example. My journey for wisdom has inspired me to share what I’ve learned, motivating me to begin writing my own book and offering coaching and mentoring to the community. I have no one to thank other than the Lord himself for blessing me with the strength to seize the opportunities he’s bestowed upon me. I see the Lord’s footprints, and I feel His presence, especially during worship. Now, when I attend Mass with a clear understanding of what is taking place, I feel a profound responsibility to be fully present, engaged and demonstrate through action.
The Mass is not a backyard barbecue, sporting event, or nightclub, yet so many behave as if it were. We stand at the foot of Calvary, where the sacrifice of Christ is made present. We gather at a banquet hosted by the King of Kings. In that sacred space, what we wear, how we behave, and the reverence we bring speak volumes. Not just to God, but to one another.
Phones can wait. Conversations can wait. The Lord is here now, in the Eucharist. What if we approached each Mass with that awareness and awe? What if we truly gave God our full presence of heart, mind, and body?
This is not about judgment; it’s about invitation. It’s about calling ourselves to something higher. Somewhere along the way, it became acceptable to behave casually at Mass, but let’s not settle for “come as you are” if that means giving God anything less than our best. All are welcome here, from every culture and background, but this welcome does not mean that the Church changes its values to fit our personal or cultural preferences. Rather, we come together to honour and uphold the timeless teachings and sacredness of our faith. Let us instead come as we ought to be: prepared, present, and reverent. Together, we can restore the beauty and sacredness of our worship. It’s time to make “Sunday Best” mean something again.
