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But all things should be done decently and in order. —I Corinthians 14:40 (RSVCE)
I sat in the narthex of my non-denominational megachurch, gently moving the baby stroller back and forth with one hand. Huge monitors projected the service to those of us sitting there with noisy children. Communion was being served and soothing worship music began while ushers distributed matzoh bits and miniature cups of grape juice. Someone emerged from the double doors, bringing us the communion elements. I took my portions, carefully holding them until the pastor would begin his words, “On the night he was betrayed…,” after which we all would partake together.
Behind me, I heard whispered words, “You can’t take communion yet, because you haven’t accepted Jesus into your heart.” The harsh message of the parents startled me. I knew this mom and dad — a well-meaning couple who had adopted these children from an impoverished country. The children were old enough to desire participation in communion — and to understand the stark message of their parents.
Were these parents telling their children they weren’t Christians?? It felt disturbing and yet I could relate to the the parental dilemma. In fact, I’d struggled with it myself with our own children. At what age should they start taking communion? It felt like an arbitrary parental decision in this world of non-denominational worship and we hadn’t been consistent with our older kids. This was an area in which I wished for clear pastoral guidelines.
Those guidelines exist in the Catholic church. It is all spelled out neatly for parents. The child is baptized into the faith during infancy and then receives first Holy Communion at the age of reason, usually about age seven, and the timing is decided pastorally. The youngest of my children has benefitted from this ordered way and as a parent, I have felt relief.
Heavenly Father of order and ordainer of the Sacraments, thank you for the structure provided by Your Church.
Consider: When were you baptized? When did you receive your first communion? How do you feel about the timing of these sacraments?
View Lisa Livezey's one-minute photo devotions at lisalivezey.com/olivetree.
Lisa Livezey writes from Pennsylvania where she found her way to Rome via the Anglican Ordinariate. She is the author of Minding Mom: A Caregiver's Devotional Story (En Route Publishing) and contributes to the National Catholic Register, Guideposts books and devotionals, and more. Her weekly photo devotions found at lisalivezey.com/olivetree are viewed worldwide and utilized by Visio Divina prayer groups. Lisa is a wife, mom, and grandma, volunteers in church and civic settings, and serves on the executive team at Heart of the Father Ministries. She credits her husband with giving her name alliteration and sometimes on summer weekends can be spotted sailing the Chesapeake Bay alongside her spouse.
