At a Sunday Mass a little while back, a little girl about seven years old got out of her seat and sat in the middle aisle, where she remained for the entire Mass. Afterwards, I asked her why she sat there. She said because I wanted to see what the priest was doing at the altar, but in the seat, I couldn’t see above the people in front of me.
Today’s Gospel says “…although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to little ones.” What did the Lord reveal to that little girl? What did she expect to see at the altar? Was it Jesus? Was it the miracle of the Eucharist: bread becoming the Body of Christ and the wine becoming the Blood of Christ? I’m sure this was beyond her understanding. However, she was excited to watch and see what was happening at the altar.
Do we have that same excitement for the Eucharist? After all, it is the Body and Blood of Jesus that is on that altar and that which we receive in Holy Communion. Have we taken the Lord for granted and lost the excitement of receiving Jesus in Holy Communion? Go back and remember your First Holy Communion and bring that same exhilaration to receiving Holy Communion today. Remember it is truly Jesus present under the appearance of bread and wine.