The past two weekends I was blessed to be present for First Holy Communion celebrations at two separate parishes. Last week, my wife and I were at our home church, St. John the Evangelist, and this week we attended Mass at the church where she serves as the school principal, St. Vivian.
I was transfixed as the young men and women sat with their families at the front of the churches, all decked out in pint-sized suits and traditional white dresses. They were often joined by their entire extended families, all present for this monumental day. Cameras were out in force, their holders taking snapshots and filming video for eternal preservation.
And I marveled at the excitement obvious in their eyes, eager to fully participate at the Lord’s table for the first time. One young boy at St. John was practically bouncing out of the pew, ready for his name to be called and take his place near the altar. Another lad at St. Vivian was saddled with a broken arm for the special day, but he slung his sports jacket over one shoulder and soldiered on.
When they got to the presiding priests at both churches, the First Communicants proudly held their hands up high, practically begging for the sacred Eucharist to be placed there. It was a beautiful sight to behold.
I envied their enthusiasm and I began to think that every Mass should resemble First Communion. Every time we get to participate in this amazing sacrament, we should do so with the excitement, with the anticipation, with the awe it so deserves. We are blessed to have Christ with us in the Eucharist every single time we attend Mass. May we never take it for granted.
So let’s all of us strive to be a little bit more like those second graders, this week and every week. Let us always be fully present for the Real Presence.
By the way, the accompanying photo was not taken over the past two weekends. Rather, it’s from my daughter Kiera’s First Holy Communion almost 20 years ago. A version of this photo, much worse for wear, has been carried in my many wallets ever since.
52 Masses 