Be prepared

One of my university lecturers – the Professor, no less – was famed by an occasion when virtually an entire one-hour tutorial was held in silence. 

A tutorial is very different to a lecture.  A wit once wrote that ‘a lecture is the process by which information is passed from the notes of the lecturer to the notes of the student, bypassing the brain of both.’

But tutorials have a more interactive format.  They are designed for discussion, clarification, and applying the knowledge gained in lectures.  You cannot expect to turn up and be passive or disengaged.  You must be tuned in.

Now, this Professor had asked his students to prepare for the tutorial by doing some reading.  This reading was essential as it would prepare fertile ground for the advancement of their studies; their understanding of the topic would deepen though their shared exploration of the reading and, because of this, they would take ownership and think for themselves – developing their own thoughts.

At the start he asked a leading question that could only be tackled had the students done the reading.  But none of them had bothered to do so.  They had just turned up, somewhat lethargically, expecting that – by some mysterious magic – they would become wise in the subject without even lifting a finger.

They sat in awkward silence for the hour and were then dismissed.  They had turned up, as they were obliged to do so, but left the tutorial….unchanged.

I am sure that you have already guessed that I'm seeing a connection between the events of that singular tutorial and the mindset that we should have before and during the celebration of Holy Mass.

Let’s ask ourselves whether we prepare for Mass through moments of prayer and reading, and through a conscious living of the Gospel in our lives?   

And do we consciously engage with and participate in Holy Mass when we are there?

Or, like those students, do we remain unchanged?