Here comes Sunday. The young and old eagerly wait for this day to worship, pray and sing together in the Church. Hundreds flock to their own churches with much enthusiasm. We can hear children calling each other joyfully to celebrate the day of the Lord. Apart from other days, Sunday is filled with much life and laughter. This is because Sunday is the day of the Lord’s resurrection, the day of life.
Good Christian parents hold the hands of their kids as they walk towards the Church. Such spiritual quest in Parents is admirable. The family that goes to Church together will ultimately find much joy and satisfaction even as they sit inside the Church. The presence of parents moves the hearts of the children and vice-versa. The prayer of Parents for the well-being of children and the children praying for God’s strength upon parents may seem simple, yet the glory of God shines in such prayers.
Every parent must imbibe the virtue of Christian life in the family. Christian life is not to be lived inside the closed doors rather it is to be lived in the wide open space along with other members. Sometimes good Christian children fail to be sociable. Children who are brought up christianly give the same Christian spirit to their friends. Therefore, parents have to be stern and strong when it comes to participating Sunday’s Eucharist/worship along with Children.
There are many parents who leave their Children at the hands of the caretaker and enjoy themselves with the Lord in the Church. I strongly believe that such worship is incomplete (You remain incomplete without your children inside the family but the same is not shown in the Church). On the other hand, some parents take complete holiday in the house. They fully encourage their children to attend Sunday’s Eucharist/service, yet they never move their feet towards the road that leads to Church (Do not let your children go alone to Church without you. They become orphans in the Church campus). Sunday worship is obligatory for all Christians, not optional. Do not remain inside your house on Sunday and come out only by Monday morning. You may become new species of Christian generation. Always “Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day” (Third Commandment of God)
A pastor was surprised to see that the church was fully packed on Christmas Day. Many members look new to him because they never come to Church. So during his sermon, he said, “I am very happy that many of you have taken trouble to come to Church today to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Yet, I may not see most of you till next Christmas, so I wish you all a very happy New Year and Happy Easter.” It was another sermon on the mount. The hearers understood their own weak Christian life from the sermon.
Sunday school or Catechism class is not Eucharistic celebration or worship/service. We often take for granted and commit grievous mistake. There are instances where parents go to Church and pray and children are made to sit inside the classroom to attend Sunday school/Catechism classes. This absurdity is accepted by many pastors and Sunday school teachers. All have the right to worship God INSIDE the Church. Learning to pray and worship inside the Church creates better atmosphere for all. That is why we go to Church, if not the same act can be done at home as most complicated believers do, or it can be done in the schools and colleges without weekends. Many Christians think that God should come to them at their beck and call from bathroom to terrace.
We need to keep the day of the Lord holy. And this can come true if Sunday becomes obligatory for all Christians. Be happy because no pastors or Church leaders impose fine on you for absenting yourselves before God and the Church on Sunday. Be happy Church goers because you are Christians.