Do I Go Out of Obligation, or Out of Love?

Fr. Eric Nicolai preaches at Lyncroft centre about Luke 14, 1-6, where Jesus asked whether it is lawful to heal on the Sabbath. “Now on a sabbath day Jesus had gone for a meal to the house of one of the leading Pharisees; and they watched him closely. There in front of him was a man with dropsy, and Jesus addressed the lawyers and Pharisees. ‘Is it against the law’ he asked ‘to cure a man on the sabbath, or not?’ But they remained silent, so he took the man and cured him and sent him away." By "lawful" they meant obligation. Whether the law permitted you or not. Sunday obligation during the pandemic. Do we have to go to Mass? What time do you have to go in order to fulfill the Sunday precept? What if I arrive after the homily, before the creed? At the offertory? But could it be that with such questions, we don’t go there out of love, out of desire to be with you, Lord, but simply to fulfill an obligation? It seems to be forged in guilt. As though I had to only do things out of obligation, to ensure I pass, like an exam at school. Not really out of generous love. Music: From Handel’s opera Rinaldo, Lascia ch’io pianga, played by Bert Alink Thumbnail: Rembrandt, 100 Gilder Print, 1649.