The following true story is from the life of King Louis XIV of France: One Sunday when he and his royal party arrived at church, no one was there except Archbishop Fenelon, the court preacher. Surprised to see all the vacant seats, the King inquired, “Where is everybody? Why isn’t anyone else present this morning?” The minister answered “I announced that Your Majesty would not be here today, because I wanted you to see who came to the service just to flatter you and who came to worship God.”

Even today, many people go to church for the wrong reason.

Why do we go to church ? Out of habit? Because that is the way we were brought up? Because of the beauty of the songs? Because of the charisma of the minister and the inspiration of his sermons? Because of the fervor of the prayers? Because of the magnificence of the building? Because of the talent of the organists and choir director? To put on a good appearance?

So why then do we go to Church? We go to church to be in the presence of God. We go to church to meet with God and worship Him. We go to church to share in the Eucharistic worship. We don’t go out of habit or obedience. We don’t go because of the prayers and songs. We don’t go because of the building and fellowship. We don’t go because of the organists or choir director.

We go because we want to worship our Lord, to receive the greatest gift God has to offer – the source and summit of our Faith, Jesus Christ Himself.