We can serve God as laypeople.

The baptismal priesthood does not mandate a believing man and woman to change the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus. A woman cannot be a priest. Yet, many things that believing lay people can do; they do not use. The baptismal priesthood entitles you to active participation in the spiritual life, in the celebration of the Mass and the liturgy. Thus, here is the root of where the obligation to be present at Holy Mass every Sunday and on the commanded feast day comes from. Are you a Christian Catholic? Then you have an obligation to offer the sacrifice of the Mass, that is, to be present at Mass. And not just passively, by being present in body and spirit. Today you need to live the Holy Mass. The responses, the gestures, the singing, and the attentiveness are not everything. The Christian has the right to read the Scriptures at Mass, that is, the first two readings. The general priesthood implies that you may recite prayers and petitions, offer the sacrifices, read the commentary on the liturgy, sing the psalms and accompany by playing a musical instrument, sing at Mass, and have the boys’ minstrel. In some instances, to distribute Holy Communion, even to bring it home to the sick. In some cases, admittedly with the permission of the Ordinary, even other acts such as laying out the Sacrament for adoration, but not blessed with the Sacrament.

Jesus says: “If you ask me for anything…” (Jn 14:14). The general priesthood has the right and duty to offer spiritual sacrifices to God. What we feel, what we experience, what simply belongs to our life, you are to offer to God. As Jesus, the Son of God, offered Himself to God the Father.

Sunday Mass cannot just be a time devoted to God that we participate in Holy Mass. It is to be an offering, that is, to place ourselves, our petitions, our apologies, our thanksgiving, on the altar. Baptism in the universal priesthood addresses us to commit ourselves for our salvation and the salvation of other brothers and sisters. The preparation for the Mass, the actual celebration of the Mass, is necessary for the believer to be able to give more witness and example to his faith. We realize that our duty is to spread the Kingdom of God on earth in human hearts. Neglecting one’s responsibilities as a Christian is no small thing at all. Baptism commits us to the service of faith for the sake of the Kingdom of God within us.

The life of believing Christians – the laity, is inherent in the Church. To Philip, Jesus said: “Whoever sees me sees the Father” (Jn 14:9). A good Christian realizes that he is not to live his faith only in church, but always and as best he can. A girl knows how to educate her future husband. A neighbor can be an apostle to a neighbour or a friend to a friend. A good believer does not expect that everything must be done by a priest. He will offer his abilities, strength, skill, talents, and time, thus gaining invaluable merit for himself, as well as the joy of a job well done.

We have parishes where churches shine with cleanliness thanks to caring women. It is a blessing when a priest has a churchwarden on whom he can rely, who is often like a chaplain in the parish. You know yourself how it feels when there is nice singing in church, pleasantly accompanied by organ playing.