Hi Soul Excellence Leaders!
Over the weekend, I celebrated my youngest brother’s engagement 💍, swam in the teal ocean of Ft. Lauderdale Beach, spent hours learning about my Enneagram type (hello 👋 Type 4 – The Individualist), and went to mass for Palm Sunday. It was the kind of full and varied weekend that I love!
One of the observations that I had over the weekend, was how much I value ritual and ceremony. That I care deeply about the feeling of the experience more than the outcome of it. Have you felt that way before?
On Sunday, I woke up excited to go to mass at St. Anthony’s Church for Palm Sunday. Although it is a solemn occasion, I desired to be among the energy of the people and not watching from a screen in my pajamas with coffee ☕️.
So I put on a dress and walked the few blocks to the church. As I entered, I put on the still-required mask and then found a spot near the front, one of the few spots available with every other pew blocked off and guidance to sit far apart.
Palm Sunday on Speed
The mass began. There was no procession from the priest, and the intricate organ at the back of the bright church went unplayed. He brusquely welcomed us, and the proceedings were underway.
And that’s how the rest of the rapid-fire, no frills event went on. We stood for the reading of the passion. This is usually a dramatic reading of the story of Christ’s crucification where we laypeople participate by reading the lines of the crowd condemning Christ to death and then genuflecting in silence for a minute or two near the end of the reading. This time, however, the priest and narrators raced through it like they were on speed and we the crowd didn’t participate – there were no cues or missals to guide those who needed a reminder.
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As we sat down after the reading, I scooted over to the women who had been sitting six feet apart and mumbled, “Well, that was rather unceremonious!” She replied, Right? as I saw her brow furrow and head nod disapprovingly.
Soul’s Yearning for Deeper Connection
Here’s how I felt. I felt like the church had done us a massive disservice. I felt like they’ve lost their verve for the mass. There’s no restrictions on singing in church here in Florida. There’s no reason to not have printed out pamphlets with the words on it for people if the church is still afraid of spread from shared missals. There’s no reason to “go through the motions” and offer a bare-bones experienced when the people are yearning for so much more.
I feel like the world is crying out for connection and community. And this church, which could be a central figure in serving this need, had abdicated its responsibility to do so.
Now it’s fair to read my thoughts and feelings here as misguided or at least mis-focused. Kayleigh, you might say, you could have focused on the beauty of the experience or the simple reminder of Christ’s death and resurrection. You are the one that chose to focus on the negative.
I’d agree with you. I did appreciate receiving a symbolic palm. I appreciated at least looking people in the eye for the sign of peace. And I also feel like what I experienced was what the world looks and feels like when leaders lose their way by first giving into fear and then choosing to drop into that lower level energy. There’s no creativity – and no connection to the people.
I left the church a mere 33 minutes after entering it, longing for the connection and joy that singing, sitting close, and worshipping together creates.
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