Dancing with the Stars – Davidian Style
theophilus January 29th, 2008
I watch “Dancing with the Stars”. I hate to admit it but I like it. My wife lured me in – my little girl insisted I watch it – and I got hooked. I am actually looking forward to the next season.
And I am comforted by the realization that anything that can be good enough for tough athletes like Emmitt, Jerry, Helio, Apollo, Floyd, Stacy, Layla, and Evander can be good enough for me.
So, I read today’s first reading with a slight and knowing grin. We hear from 2 Samuel 6 that -
“Then David, girt with a linen apron,
came dancing before the LORD with abandon,
as he and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the LORD
with shouts of joy and to the sound of the horn.”
David – he was one of the great and tough men of the Old Testament – he was a man’s man. And he was “dancing . . . with abandon.” He was engaging in “shouts of joy.”
About what, you ask? About, “the LORD.” About, “bringing up the ark of the LORD.”
David was excited. He was euphoric. God was a big deal. This celebration – centered on God – was something to shout about.
But, when I’m at Mass this Sunday, will I be like David? Or, will I be like I usually am? My mouth opening in song – inaudible to the person next to me. My mouth opening for the responses – mumbled beyond recognition. Will anyone see a smile crack my face – much less “shouts of joy”? Probably not. Will anyone see animation in my actions – much less “dancing with abandon.” Probably not.
And why not?
Because we have been conditioned as Catholics that Mass is something to be endured, tolerated, gotten through. It’s a tried and true attitude that translates into a belief that we may have to be here, but we don’t have to like it.
But, this attitude means we miss so much. We miss the joy of the Mass, the happiness that comes from celebrating – yes, celebrating – with our fellow believers. The hope that comes from allowing Christ to enter our very being. The liturgy is pure poetry, with rhetoric that rises to the very essence of our soul. The music can take us to places we cannot go at any other time – in any other place. The prayers can be our communal and universal conversation with our creator and saviour.
We SHOULD act with abandon and shout and dance with joy every time we go to Mass. And I emphasize “should”, because we all know we won’t. We’re too concerned with how we sound – and how others view us.
And, what I have found is that I cannot hear anyone singing if I am actually focused on singing. I cannot hear anyone else’s responses if I am focused on my own responses.
But, again will I be euphoric this Sunday? Well, if I am, I will end sitting in another part of the church from my wife, who will probably be hiding somewhere in embarrasment.
Yea, my singing really is that bad.
But, we can still be joyful and glad we’re there – which is precisely what Christ wants from us. And we shouldn’t be embarrassed to show it. Afterall, when we are at Mass, we are home – we are with family. And that is absolutely something to be joyful and glad about.
