Sleep vs. Mass: Jesus Always Wins

I am not a morning person and I probably never will be. I like sleeping in and staying up late. I love my snooze button and don’t think scalding black coffee in my throat makes it any better. I like to joke that I live by this funny verse in Proverbs “When one greets his neighbor with a loud voice in the early morning, a curse can be laid to his charge.”

Throughout high school it took me from 7 in the morning until about lunch time to wake up. When I graduated, my sleep habits didn’t change. After three semesters I switched colleges and moved back at home. At this point I knew I needed to start being more disciplined about my prayer life. I had to make solid commitments to God.

I decided daily Mass would be the best start since I didn’t like waking up earlier than my schedule forced me to. I had gone a few times before because my friends had invited me, but not regularly. This time it was my choice. I knew I needed it.

It was by far the best decision I made in a long time. Daily Mass is so beautiful in its simplicity. There’s just one reading, then the Gospel, usually no music, an incredibly direct homily (usually) and most importantly the Eucharist is there for me. God truly blesses me with what I need and He knew I needed Mass to start my day. Ever since I started going to daily Mass my whole day has changed.

There is something about Mass being the first real moment of my day that I don’t think I could do justice describing. It changes my entire approach to the world around me. Someone might argue that it’s unnecessary to go everyday but if I could why wouldn’t I? The Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith.

Receiving the Eucharist is more productive than anything else I could do in my whole day. It not hard to see how consuming Christ is more important than that extra moment of sleep or playing video games. He is all that I need. If I don’t go to Mass, I refuse an incredible invitation from the God of the universe!

My Lord helps me love the morning. I‘m still not a morning person but waking up isn’t as hard when there’s something worth the early start. Who need’s Folger’s when you have J.C.?