Blog Post 5/06/2024 – Celebrating Grandchild #5’s 1st Holy Communion on 5/05/2024

 

Once again, I have been granted the beautiful and moving blessing of giving one of our grandchildren his First Holy Communion [picture above].  I want to share with you my reflection on that singular privilege.

A Child’s TRUST in God’s love and caring is demonstrated profoundly in the reception of a child’s 1^st Holy Communion.  Jesus taught us, Do not be afraid!  He wants us to TRUST Him and to TRUST our Heavenly Father.  TRUST is fundamental to loving God, loving others and loving ourselves. 

What kind of TRUST does God ask from us?

In a traditional flying trapeze act, flyers mount a narrow board and take off on the fly bar.  The flyer must wait for a call from the catcher to make sure they leave at the correct time.  If leave too early or too late, the catcher will not be close enough   to the flyer to make the catch.  The flyer must have complete trust in the catcher.  The flyer is often perceived as the star of the show, but the real star is the catcher.  The flyer must do nothing and allow the catcher to do everything. [The Flyer and Catcher by Kaizen on December 19, 2013]

To be a disciple of Jesus requires one to completely trust our catcher, our Heavenly Father, with all our heart.  We are not supposed to catch God but allow God to catch us, by giving our our hearts and wills – without fear, trusting in Jesus our spiritual catcher.  We are flyers asked by God to TRUST and PREPARE!

Dear God,

During my life You and I have been through births, deaths, marriages, Baptisms, Confirmations, 1^st Holy Communions, successes, failures, times of war, times of peace, sickness, health, good times and difficult times.  I know You first loved me, and I responded by loving You and I pray that I choose to love You every day.

Sometimes You answered my prayers with a yes, sometimes with a no, sometimes with a not yet and sometimes no answer at all.  But I believe that each of Your answers is the best for me.  Loving You, TRUSTING You gives me the HOPE and the ENERGY to PREPARE to meet You and spend eternity with You.

I pray that my children, my daughters-in-law, my son-in-law and their children [my grandchildren)] come to know You, Love You, Trust You and Hope in Your Promises so that their lives are a  Preparation to meet You in eternity.

In Love, Trust and Hope 

Deacon George

May God Be Praised.