Inviting One Back: The Spirituality of the Invitation
Do you remember the last time that you were invited somewhere? It may have been a wedding, a lunch date or a cup of coffee. Invitations mean something. They say something: “I want to be with you”; “I enjoy your presence”; “I want you to be part of my life.”
Invitations are uniquely powerful. An invitation is not forceful nor aggressive, yet by nature, it expects a response. Jesus used invitations all the time! He invited people to worship and glorify God, He invited people to follow him, He invited people to dine with him, and He invited people to repent and believe in the Gospel. We should do the same today.
Though there are many reasons why Catholics stop attending Mass, it is safe to assume the majority will only come back if personally invited. No matter where individuals are or what decisions they have made, the Church remains a spiritual home and community of people in need of God’s love and mercy. An invitation reminds them that they belong within our community and that their presence is missing.
If even one person is missing from our parish, their absence matters! In the words of the great Christian writer, C.S. Lewis: “There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal.” Every person we have encountered has an eternal destiny. Every person who has ever been a parishioner of our church is a person with an immortal soul and, therefore, of an infinite amount of value. Whether our parish is missing just a single soul, or five souls, or five hundred souls, we are incomplete without one another.
Our efforts in evangelization and inviting Catholics back to Mass are not just about increasing numbers or filling pews. Rather, our efforts are about guiding people to intimate encounters with Jesus Christ and leading souls to salvation, allowing them to experience God’s love, mercy and goodness.
It is important to invite these people back because it is a great act of love! It is also one of the simplest and most effective ways to evangelize. Love desires to be shared once it is received. The source and summit of the Christian life is participation in the Eucharistic Sacrifice, where we encounter the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist. Our faith is nourished and our souls are strengthened through this encounter, which is essential for our spiritual growth and vitality.
Let us pray earnestly for the Holy Spirit’s guidance and fortitude to carry out this sacred mission. Let us embrace each soul with open arms, rejoicing as they return to the embrace of the Church and our parish community through the gift of the Eucharist.
National Eucharistic Revival