So, in a way, yes "the mass is a communion of God and His people" but it is not about us at all except in what is owed God for everything, including our "self."  Thanksgiving is one of the four kinds of prayer and a prayer is directed to God alone; God does not thank us as He lacks nothing in Himself.  If Jesus is God, and I believe that He is (and I believe that you do, as well), He is more than a Buddah or a guru to "follow."  His unmerited gift of Himself on our behalf makes His immolation all the more worthy of worship, where the focus is not one another - that is for later - but on God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit alone.