Why do people come to church ? ?

The answer – since ages - is comfort and challenge.

Comfort - for your pain, your loss, the painful acceptance of your limits that you have to recognize that you failed in what you were supposed to do, or who you were supposed to be.

You light a candle, look for light and comfort. And at the beginning of Mass you realize that you are not the only one, and that we all ask for forgiveness, from God and from one another, time and again.

This is a place for healing, forgiveness and comfort. Especially on weekdays when people come here with their shopping bags - full of I do not know what. The church offers comfort, a place to be consoled.

On Sundays another ingredient is added: Challenge. The church also offers a challenge, perhaps some wisdom, an insight, or a task. Love your neighbour, be faithful in your marriage. Look after the widow, the orphan, the stranger and all the translations of these commandments for the world of today.

Not only consolation, also some guidelines, that can be real challenges! That is long tradition, that we come here both you and me to be comforted, and to be challenged.

The last two years another dimension has been added, – and I find it hard to put a name on it. It has to do with this: I feel powerless when I read the news – much more than ten or thirty years ago. It may have to do with advancing in age, but it are also the times: Gaza, the school shootings, corruption in international politics, Ukraine. The feeling that there is nothing you can do about it - apart from voting once every four years…

Every evening around ten, when you all have been gone from the church for hours, I make my rounds through the building. I switch of a light, I look after the candles that perhaps are still burning - in winter I check if the heating is programmed correctly. The big church is empty - and I have the church to myself. It is dark. It is silent. It is the best prayer moment of the day. I pray for the people who were here today, I am alone, with the candle up there, that indicates that the Lord is present in the tabernacle.

That moment is not a moment of COMFORT, not of CHALLENGE, but of: “being there”. With my feelings of not being able to do what so ever for the people in Gaza, the hostages, the Ukranians or the Russian dissenters ….

It must be what the contemplative sisters and brothers feel and do when they remain in their monasteries year after year. Sit with your pain, your needs, your joys, the names of your loved ones …. bring all of creation before the Lord, and trust in his mysterious ways ….

The Flemish worker priest Egied van Broeckhoven says: I love the world towards God, I love God towards the world. Ik bemin de wereld naar God toe, en ik bemin God naar de wereld toe.

It is not exactly what is described in the reading of the Hebrews 12 that we heard today, - but it has something to do with it: “What you have come to is nothing known to the senses: a blazing fire, a storm or a trumpet ….or a great voice. What you come to is the presence of God where everyone is a “first-born-child” and a citizen of heaven.”

LET us now look at another Bible reading of today. For the first reading I chose a set of quotes from chapters 6 and 7 of the book of Jesus Sirach (Ecclesiasticus). SIRACH 6: 5-6, 14 -17; 7: 18 – 20, 24, 27 - 30, 34 – 36.

Let those who are friendly with you be many, but let your advisers be one in a thousand. Faithful friends are a sturdy shelter: whoever finds one has found a treasure. Faithful friends are beyond price; no amount can balance their worth. Faithful friends are life-saving medicine; and those who fear the Lord will find them. Those who fear the Lord direct their friendship aright, for as they are, so are their neighbours also.

Do not exchange a friend for money, or a real brother for gold. Do not dismiss a wise and good wife, for her charm is worth more than gold. Do not abuse slaves who work faithfully, or hired labourers who devote themselves to their task. Do you have daughters? Be concerned for their chastity, and do not show yourself too indulgent with them.

With all your heart honour your father, and do not forget the birth pangs of your mother. Remember that it was of your parents you were born; how can you repay what they have given to you? With all your soul fear the Lord, and revere his priests. With all your might love your Maker, and do not neglect his ministers.

Do not avoid those who weep, but mourn with those who mourn. Do not hesitate to visit the sick, because for such deeds you will be loved. In all you do, remember the end of your life, and then you will never sin.

If we take these words to heart, we will receive both consolations and challenges, and all will be well.