During the Eucharist, I was mesmerized by a tiny Hispanic girl who wandered around the front of the sanctuary. The little girl was probably around three years old, was dark-skinned, had long straight black hair, blunt bangs, and the cutest chubby cheeks you’ve ever seen. She wandered around the front of the church and eventually, she ended up standing in front of the line of people receiving communion. She stared in genuine interest at the pastor and the man that was serving. They didn’t notice her, but she was entranced by what they were doing. After the last person was served, the pastor turned around and placed the chalice and paten back on the altar rail. The little girl spun around and placed her hands over her face and fell face-first into the front pew and started crying. The pastor realized she had not received communion, so she grabbed the chalice and a piece of bread, and then knelt down in front of the girl. The girl looked up through her fingers and realized the pastor was going to allow her to partake. She grabbed the piece of bread, dipped it, and ran to her parents, grinning from ear to ear.
Tears streamed down my face during this entire encounter. What a picture of the gift of Holy Communion. A picture of the grace that I have taken for granted for so long…a reminder that anyone and everyone is invited to this table—God’s table.
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