One thing I’ve noticed is that sometimes when someone stops coming to church or misses church, our first reaction is to ask, “Why didn’t you come?” Almost like we’re accusing them of committing a crime.
I know of someone who once shared, “I’ve been the one accused many times, and I know how it feels. Each time I felt accused, I almost wanted to stay away even more. What I didn’t realise was that I was depriving myself of the grace Christ wanted to give me through the Eucharist. What changed for me is when someone explained the ‘why’ to me.”
The point is simple. You cannot change a person. You can only show them the way and pray. Yes, missing Mass is serious, but accusations rarely bring anyone back to Jesus. Instead of judging, we are called to pray, encourage, and love. Because that is how Jesus treated people.
Why should we go to church?
People often say, “Catholics should go to church.” But why? Many have grown up hearing answers like: “Because your father said so,” or “Because you must, or you won’t receive Communion, Confirmation, or a marriage certificate.” But often, the deeper reason is missing. As Catholics, the Eucharist is a gift we are invited to experience. Some may understand this easily, while others – like the lost sheep – need to be found gently, not pushed.
We know the Third Commandment: “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.” (Ex 20:8) But someone may still ask, “Can’t I keep it holy at home?” God alone knows every heart and every situation. Yet if Jesus Himself invites us to His table, why would we choose to stay away? Because Jesus Himself asked us to do. At the Last Supper, Jesus took bread and said, “Take and eat.” He took the cup and said, “Take and drink.” Then He added, “Do this in remembrance of me” (Lk 22:19–20). This is not just tradition. It is invitation. Jesus established a covenant through His Body and Blood. We do not go to church merely because it is a rule. We go because Jesus asked us to.
Jesus only asks one thing
There is a beautiful moment in the Gospel when Jesus visits Martha and Mary. Martha is busy serving, while Mary sits quietly at His feet. Martha becomes upset, but Jesus says, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted… there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part” (Lk 10:41–42). Jesus is not rejecting service. He is reminding us of priority: before we serve Him, we must listen to Him. “Listen to Him” (Mt 17:5). Again and again in the Gospel, Jesus repeats the same invitation: follow me, trust me, believe in me.
At Cana, Mary gives a simple instruction: “Do whatever He tells you” (Jn 2:5). The servants do not understand why they are filling jars with water. Yet they obey. And water becomes wine. Sometimes God does not explain everything. He simply asks for trust. That miracle mattered deeply. It saved a family from public shame during a wedding celebration. Jesus stepped into an ordinary crisis and restored dignity. He still does the same today.
Following Christ does not mean life will be without storms. Jesus never promised an easy journey. But He did promise, “I am with you always” (Mt 28:20). In the storm, the disciples panicked because they forgot who was in the boat. Many of us do the same. We see problems and forget presence. The storm did not destroy them. Jesus was greater than the storm.
A personal moment
I once had a flight from France to Frankfurt, then to Mumbai. The first flight was delayed. I arrived in Frankfurt with just 20 minutes to catch the next one. There was a long queue, strict security, and very little time. People were rushing. Some were unkind. I had no help. In that moment, I had only one thing – faith. Then something unexpected happened. A wheelchair passenger, also heading to Mumbai, called out for me to join. The escort urged us forward: “Don’t look back.” We moved quickly through security, received clearance, and ran to the gate. Against all odds, I made it. Ten minutes of movement replaced what looked like an impossible situation. People still ask how I made that flight. The answer is simple. It was not luck. It was a reminder: God keeps His promise. “I am with you always.”
If someone has stopped coming to church, don’t accuse them. Invite them. Pray for them. Love them. Because the Jesus who said, “Do this in remembrance of me,” is the same Jesus who said, “Follow me.” The same Jesus whose mother said, “Do whatever He tells you.” The same Jesus who calmed the storm. And the same Jesus who promised, “I am with you always.” If we simply listen to Jesus and do what He says, we may still face storms – but we will never face them alone. Praise the Lord!
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Crofton Francis is based in Mumbai