The peripatetic padre Fr. Freeh still hasn’t had a chance to get to his studio, and I’m flying solo again this week. So I’d like to go back and touch on the topic that kicked off these ten-minute reflections of Now and Forever: the grounding of spirituality in the parish.

We’ve been reflecting on how our spirituality must be oriented toward meeting the real needs of the world.

Now, if you’ve got a group of people who want to worship, love, and serve God by loving and serving their neighbor–which will do for a short working definition of “parish” for the purposes of this post–then they should find the natural outlet of their shared desire in the activities of the group. In other words, the life of the parish should be an expression of the common element of our spirituality: loving and serving God and neighbor.

Sadly, this isn’t really the case.

In Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic, Matthew Kelly says that studies have shown only 7% of all Catholics are involved in the life of their parish. These are the folks who pray, study, give financial support, and evangelize. (In my metaphor-prone mind, I see these folks as fit and active, while most of the Body of Christ is sitting on the couch, watching TV and playing video games, eating chips, getting fat and clogged arteries.)

But rather than finding the 7% number a cause for despair, Kelly points to how much that 7% is already doing. The Catholic Church feeds, clothes, shelters, educates, heals, and assists in disaster more people on this planet than any other single entity. And, by the way, has a 2,000-year track record of doing so.

Now imagine what the Church could do if just another 1% became truly involved. And another 1% the year after that, and another 1%…. The upside potential is simply flabbergasting.

Maybe you’re already part of that involved and well-muscled 7%. If so…congratulations, and keep up the good work!

Your next challenge is to invite lapsed Catholics, the occasional Mass-goer, or the Sunday pew-sitter, into a more active participation in the life of the Church. Sometimes, the folks who are already involved have a hard time making room for new blood. Be the person who reaches out in friendship to share the work.

Many hands make light work, and the needs are real. And trust me, there’s something for  everyone to do. There are as many different ways to be involved as there are Catholics. (My own parish has more than 88 different ministries.)

Maybe you’re not involved, and you have a list of reasons why. Here’s something to consider. One of the Bible verses that often comes to my mind is, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Lk. 12:34)

Translation: How you spend your time and money will tell you what’s really important to you, what you value most.

Take a hard look at your own use of your time, talent, and treasure–all of which aren’t really yours to begin with. They are gifts from God. Do you like what it says about you? Is what you do truly aligned with what you value most? Where does God and neighbor (including family under this umbrella) show up in your life?

There’s a reason Luke 12:34 is often on my mind. It’s a useful prod to my conscience about my own shortcomings.

I’ve made at least some progress in this area, and here’s what I’ve learned about participating in the life of the parish. It’s one of those God-driven paradoxes where the more you give, the more you get. Which brings to mind another Bible verse:

And whosoever shall give to drink to one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, amen I say to you, he shall not lose his reward. (Mt. 10:42)

We tend to think of this as Heavenly reward, but the truth is my involvement in my parish has rewarded me right now with friendship, laughter, joy…and a sense of peace that at least some of the time I’m living according to my faith, in concert with those who share it. I love my parish, and I find myself praying for the parish as a whole, not just the parishioners I personally know.

If your involvement in your parish is limited to showing up for Mass, you can change that.

Maybe you’ll finally volunteer for that parish ministry that’s been dogging your conscience. Maybe you’ll begin by reading Matthew Kelly’s book, Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic  to learn more about how applied spirituality in a parish setting gives us the opportunity to change ourselves and the world for the better.

Here’s a step we can all take together: praying that the Holy Spirit will energize our parishes and get them–and us–off the spiritual couch.

I earnestly invite you to take that first step, and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to the second.

This Sunday’s readings.