House Rules

Appreciating the rules and restrictions during Mass

05/10/2020

ACTS of the Apostles 6:1-7 As the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit, also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. they presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them. The word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly; even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith.

Every family lives by certain house rules to promote its harmony and happiness. Did you know the English word “economy” comes from two Greek words, “oikos” and “nomos” which literally mean “house” and “rule”? A family’s “economy” therefore is not just a measure of its financial wealth, but originally it gauged the wealth of love and respect among its members. If you did not have any house rules, then the inmates would be running the asylum, and anarchy would rule. You would not have house rules, you would have animal house.

I still remember some of my family’s house rules when I was a child. For example, being from India, we always removed our shoes when we entered the house, as a sign of respect. That always reminded of how Moses removed his sandals as he approached the burning bush in Exodus 3 because he walked on holy ground. Every home is holy ground for the family that lives there. Each night we gathered to pray together. My mother lit two candles and we said prayers in English and Malayalam. Good thing God is bilingual, and can even under “Manglish” (like Spanglish)! Every Saturday we cleaned the house. And for some reason my job was always to clean the bathrooms. What high crimes and misdemeanors did I commit to deserve such a severe sentence? Does your family have its own economy, its own house rules, or are the inmates running your asylum?

In the Acts of the Apostles today, we see the apostles acting like good parents and establishing “house rules” regarding the basic structure of the early Church. Instead of “anarchy,” the church will be a “hierarchy” which means “the rule of priests.” So, no more cleaning bathrooms for me! The apostles declare: “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men…whom we will appoint to this task.” Those seven men became the first deacons of the Church, and elsewhere in Scriptures the Holy Spirit would inspire the Church to establish bishops and priests, and complete the three-rank hierarchy of the Church. In other words, to promote harmony and happiness in the household of the early Church, its “economy” was set up as a “hierarchy,” which could wisely measure the wealth of Christian love.

You have probably heard that Bishop Taylor has allowed parishes to celebrate public Masses starting next weekend, May 16-17. What a blessing! But to ensure everyone’s safety during this pandemic, he has given us specific and strict guidelines. I hope you will see them as blessings and not as burdens, indeed as “house rules” that promote our family’s harmony, happiness and even health. Let me highlight only three rules that may seem a little challenging and may make a few inmates want to run the asylum. We will post all the house rules on the doors of the church and social media.

First, we are only allowed to occupy 25% of the pews available in church, and the rest of the seats will be roped off. Our church seats about 500 people, so every Sunday only about 125 parishioners will be able to attend each Mass. Now, remember, the bishop has dispensed Catholics from their Sunday Mass obligation, so instead of Sunday, would you please come to Mass during the week? We have added extra Masses during the week to there’s more bread to spread the butter on: more Bread of Eternal Life to spread the People of God on! Remember the good old days when someone would always give up their seat on a crowded bus for someone else? Attending a weekday Mass instead of Sunday allows someone else to occupy your seat; someone who needs Sunday Mass more than you.

Second, everyone at Mass must wear a mask during the entire Mass. You may lower the mask, of course, when you come forward for Communion, and then immediately raise it and cover your mouth and nose. As you know, the mask does little to protect the wearer; its real purpose is to protect other people. I know the masks are uncomfortable and a nuisance, but so was the cross to Christ. Our Lord was not nailed to the cross for his benefit, but for ours. He suffered for us. Every Christian who wears a mask during this pandemic is performing a concrete act of love of neighbor. The mask is a sign of our “economy” which measures the wealth of our love for each other.

Third, please stay home if you are feeling sick, or if you have been in contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19, or if you are in the so-called “vulnerable population,” meaning someone over 65, or have underlying health problems, especially respiratory ailments. The hard part of this rule is that the “vulnerable population” is exactly the group of people who most want to come to Mass! They know their ticket is about to be punched and they want to make sure they have a ticket! When the bishop announced the public Masses starting, I immediately called my parents to tell them to stay home. Can you believe that any self-respecting priest would tell his parents NOT to go to Mass? That must be exactly how the bishop feels having to tell any Catholic not to receive the Eucharist. And yet, that is another sign of the health of our household economy, which measures the wealth of our love.

Every healthy household has wise and loving house rules. That is the deepest sense of the “economy” of a home because it measures the love of its members. Some rules mean we have to clean the bathroom; some rules require us to serve as deacons; some rules restrict us from coming to Mass as we wish. But all healthy homes have rules, otherwise, the inmates would be running the asylum, and you wouldn’t have house rules, you would have animal house.

Praised be Jesus Christ!