From the cathedra (the bishop’s chair in a cathedral), I regularly find reasons to smile at some of the antics that an occasional youngster enacts during Mass.
Recently, at a funeral Mass, a toddler made a break for freedom, scurrying away from his mother who was then distracted by another little one who was in her arms. The escapee was headed straight for the altar and only a quick apprehensive move from mom kept him from mounting the steps. I had to grin at the drama that was being enacted right in front of the assembly. There can often be important faith lessons to be learned even in these unplanned humorous moments that only our children can provide for us.
We are all summoned, after all, to come close to the Lord’s altar where He daily renews His sacramental sacrifice and beckons us to come and to dine with Him. Undoubtedly, this youngster may have been intrigued by something in the sanctuary – or simply the new adventure of climbing those steps. What draws us to the Lord’s altar – tradition, custom, obligation, a desire to share a need through prayer with the always attentive and listening Christ?
During these holy days that begin with and extend throughout the Easter season, we all should be heading for those altar steps that lead us to Christ. Catholics in the United States are now participating in a Eucharistic Renewal program. We are seeking to recognize, rediscover or intensify our love for the Eucharist. Our Church is inviting us to the Lord’s altar.
Another incident that brought an important faith lesson upon which I later spent a bit of time in reflection occurred with another toddler who was then in mom’s arms at the moment of Communion when his little hand reached out for a host in the vessel. Clearly, the childlike gesture was not filled with any depth of spiritual longing and insight that it may have implied. Little ones always want what their parents consume as food – both ordinary food and Eucharistic spiritual nourishment. Parents have a duty to remember that they impart significant lessons when they receive the Eucharist, and when their children witness that action.
I treasure events like these that perhaps I may be the only one to observe up close because they remind me – as I am now reminding you, that we can learn a great deal from child-like gestures that may be humorous or even poignant. Celebrants of the Church’s liturgy occasionally see things that others may not, and these often should provide food for their thought and prayer.
This special week in the Church year offers many opportunities for such images. There perhaps may be the tears in the eyes of those who are entering the Church during the Easter Vigil which always remind me of my own baptism in 1959. I am brought back to that happy and transformative moment with each Easter Vigil that I have been privileged to celebrate.
The great and observable sacramental ritual gestures that we celebrate in the liturgy are intended to be shared with everyone in the assembly, but the quiet ones that are not scripted and may even be humorous are occasions for those of us who witness them to see the finger of God working in our midst – even when God might use a little one to reveal an important element of our faith. A blessed Easter Season to you all.
(Cardinal Wilton Gregory, the archbishop of Washington, writes his “What I Have Seen and Heard” column for the Catholic Standard and Spanish-language El Pregonero newspapers and websites of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington.)
