immediate--direct...

The idea is that people want worship that is immediate--direct. And the claim is that the Mass is somehow disconnected (to our lives, culture, whatever)--that it needs interpretation.

But is that really true?

The Mass, it seems to me, is direct. It is immediate. It needs no interpretation. What could be more direct than

1. gathering
2. hearing and responding to the Word
3. sharing a meal (and receiving that Word made flesh in that meal) and
4. going out into the world to be what we've just received?

Maybe we need to eliminate clutter and silliness, but the Mass is direct. It is immediate.