An Altar Call
Father had remarked in his homily how unusual it was to have All Souls’ Day fall on a Sunday. The last time it occurred was in 2014. Ironically for us attendees at the 10am Mass, something even more unusual was about to unfold.
It began as the congregation was seated and singing the Offertory hymn. A woman walked up the main aisle, stopped before the sanctuary steps, and stood there with her arms raised up. This was absolutely not a normal part of our Sunday liturgy, even with a visiting priest! We were confused. Was she part of the Offertory procession? Who was this stranger to our church? In one outstretched hand she held a plastic bag with a weighty object in it. She remained in this pose until Father walked toward her in preparation to receive the gifts. He said something quietly to her. She walked over to an empty front pew and took a seat. She remained there for the rest of Mass. She stood when the congregation stood but did not appear to be vocalizing the responses. She did not join the Communion line but either sat with her eyes fixated on the tabernacle or her head bowed and hands crossed over her heart.
What to make of this unsettling occurrence? And let me tell you, those in attendance were unnerved, fearful, suspicious, to say the least. The woman seemed unaware of the many glances aimed at her. Her focus remained on the altar area.
Thoughts that ran quickly through my head in no particular order: is she a danger to us? Perhaps mental illness is involved? Did she just happen by our church and decide to walk in? How beautiful that she felt the need to be close to Jesus. Should I approach her after Mass and introduce myself?
An altar call is a practice, often in evangelical Protestant churches, where a preacher invites congregants to come to the front of the church, or to make a visible sign like raising a hand, to publicly affirm a decision of faith. It is not a term or a practice common to our Catholic faith. But think about it. We are in fact called to the altar, the table of plenty, to receive the Eucharist at every Mass, to receive the very body, blood, soul, and divinity of our Lord. Wouldn’t it be a beautiful sight if each of us walked up the aisle for Communion with the same reverence, need, and desire for Him--and oblivious to any judgement by others-- as this woman exhibited that November 2nd Sunday?
A few days after what I now refer to as “the All Souls’ Sunday Surprise,” I received another type of altar call from the Daily Catholic Reflection:
“When we come to our Lord’s Feast through prayer, fidelity to His Word, and by our participation in the Sacraments, we will notice that He wants others to join us for His feast. Therefore, we must also see ourselves as those servants who are sent forth to the highways and hedgerows where we will find those who do not follow God’s will. They must be invited. Though they might not feel as though they belong, God wants them at His feast. Our Lord wants everyone to know they are invited. Let Him use you to send forth His invitation.”
My generous Lord, you have invited me to share in the glory of your great Feast. You invite me every day to pray, grow strong in my faith, and to share in the Holy Eucharist. May I always respond to you and never excuse myself from your invitations. Please also use me, dear Lord, to send forth your invitation to those most in need. Jesus, I trust in You. Christ the King, inspire us.
