God Doesn’t Take a Break

An acquaintance who works in church ministry once told me a story about one of the students she had in Faith Formation. This student informed my friend that his family doesn’t come to Mass in summer. “God takes a break in summer, and so do we,” he said.

There’s a lot to unpack here. First, it’s tragic to think of anyone voluntarily missing out on the Eucharist for so long. It’s also a real problem in the church today that a lot of our folks don’t understand the beauty of the Sunday obligation. But if I had to dissect this situation and pinpoint the thing I find most troubling, it’s the idea of God taking a break.

I hope it’s starting to look like summer where you are. We’ve still got a few weeks left before it’s official, but the school year should be winding up for most kids, the birds should be chirping a little louder, and hopefully your lawn is starting to green up nicely. You’re probably daydreaming about the annual cabin getaway weekend or waterskiing on the Fourth of July.

All in all, summer is going to be a nice break, even if — like typical Americans — our break is full of productive work.

Thank God — literally — that He doesn’t take a break, even if we do. Can we try to remember that, even in the midst of our many wonderful distractions? Let’s enjoy this summer. Let’s live it to the full. But let’s see it for the gift that it is — and remember the thanks we owe the Giver.

— Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS