Why is Missing Sunday Mass Considered a Sin?

I’ve been asked this question many times before. To answer it, one has to understand the mass. It is a reliving of the sacrifice of Jesus in Calvary. In doing so, we also commemorate the sacrifice he made to “save” us. Let’s draw an analogy. Suppose your father fought during WWII and died in the war. It’s only proper to honor the sacrifice he made to “save” you from fascism. If you refuse to go to his memorial service, then this would be a grave insult. Refusal to commemorate the sacrifice he made would send the message that you don’t care that he died for you. It further implies that what he did was not important to you. How do you think his dad, your grandfather, would feel about that? I think he would be deeply hurt and offended by it. So ask yourself, how do you think God the Father would feel, if you refuse to commemorate the fact that His Son Jesus gave His life to “save” you from eternal damnation? Do you now see why it’s considered a serious offense to deliberately miss Sunday mass without any legitimate reason?

True Meaning of "Quality of Life"

Many have heard the term "quality of life" before, especially with the case of Terry Schiavo. Some say that if you can't do anything anymore, then you don't have a "quality of life". I discovered the true meaning of "quality of life" when I met a single mother, who adopted a severely disabled & terminally ill child. People thought she was crazy since this requires tremendous sacrifice. But when asked why, she said no one else will want a child who can't do, nor become, anything. But she wants a child, not to get something back , but rather to give. So she adopted the child to give him love. That child died recently and the single mother grieved the loss. But she had no regrets. That's because that child received the most important thing of all - to be genuinely loved. Now that's what it means for both of them to have a "quality of life" - to be able to love and be loved.

What's the True Meaning of Love?

Mention the word love and most think only about sex. Have you ever asked yourself this question? I have. And I discovered the answer when I visited my aunt. Her husband was bedridden and incontinent. Others would have abandoned or divorced him since he was no longer "useful". But not her, she stayed by his side to care for him till he died. Now that's real love - unconditional and self-sacrificing. Don't we all wish to be loved in that way? Then maybe to receive this kind of love, we should also start loving others selflessly.