From the Parish Priest – Fr. Romey Rosco
The time we spend in church is sacred time. Your relationship with God is the most important relationship you have. The Lord tells us so, time and again, in Sacred Scripture. He says, “Whoever loves his father or mother, son or daughter, more than Me is not worthy of Me,” (Mt. 10:37) and “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind.” (Lk. 10:27) So, when we come to church to worship the Lord, it is understandable that He does not expect the possibility of interruption.
And yet, we actually plan for interruption by bringing our cell phones to church with us! What could possibly be more important than the precious little time that we have with the Lord as God’s Family on Sunday? What call is more relevant than the call to worship God on the day He set aside for that worship? (“Remember to keep the Sabbath Day holy” – 4th Commandment)
In my opinion, unless your mother is on her deathbed, and you are waiting for that important call, turn you cell phone off before you enter the church! Would you also be at her bedside with cell phone in hand? (Hold on, Mom, I have to take this important call.) If you wouldn’t put your mother on hold, don’t do it to your Heavenly Father, either!
Just as you should leave your work at the time-clock when you punch out, and not bring its problems home with you, so should you leave “worldly cares” outside the church doors.
As the words of the Cherubic Hymn tell us “Let us lay aside all earthly cares, so that we may receive the King of All, Alleluia!”
We all have important matters to take care of. But at church, GOD is all-important. And EVEN HE doesn’t need a cell phone.
From The Weekly Bulletin, Vol. XXVIII No. 21, 27 May 2001
Sts. Peter & Paul Romanian Orthodox Church, Dearborn Heights MI
