Homily for May 4, 2008 First Communion, Feast of the Ascension

I'm going to throw out a question and an invitation to the adults to tell these young children what you felt like on your First Communion. First, I'm going to refresh your mind by talking a little bit about mine.
It was right here in this church, and the year was 1948. We were sitting way up there, because the pews went all the way up to the front. It was 7:30 in the morning, because in those days, if you wanted to go to communion you couldn't eat or drink anything from midnight.
When we got to school, all the water fountains were taped up so that we wouldn't forget and drink. And, of course, we had practiced very hard. I looked forward to receiving communion, because that meant that I was becoming big. I was growing up, and it was one of these milestones in my life as I grew up. It meant I belonged in a new and different way.
My memory of that day is all about belonging. I belonged to God and God loved me; I belonged to the church and my school, and in those days they were the same. I belonged and everybody loved me. I belonged to my family, and I looked forward to the party afterwards. I got all sorts of stuff.
By the way a couple years ago one of the parents told me, after opening all his presents her little boy said, "Boy, I can't wait till my Second Communion!"
I remember opening all the presents, but more than anything it was about belonging and being loved. As I say in my letter in the bulletin, a great deal of the joy that day was that it was all about me. That's the critical adult. But don't we all need those moments when it's all about us and when we are the center of attention and surrounded by loving, adoring people who just think we are wonderful?
That's my memory of First Communion. Would any of the adults like to share anything of your memory? What did you feel like on that day?
[Inaudible] You remember being nervous. She was so afraid she was going to get something on her dress. Yes, that goes with it, too, doesn't it?
Yes? [Inaudible] Very excited and very grown up that day.
Yes? [Inaudible] Feeling like you were going to get married. The dresses are similar, aren't they? I mean, not the same, but the veil, the white dress. It's very similar.
Yes? [Inaudible] Okay. In 1979 you were right here in this church and up there. And remembering the community and being part of that community, as he is sitting here today, there's a sense of sameness. The community is still here.
By the way, we've been doing this for 112 years now. It's been here the same. Any other memories?
Yes? [Inaudible] She remembers her favorite cousin being here, and when she came back from communion she didn't look at the cousin, and the grandmother said it was because she had bigger things on her mind.
That's different. In those days, you're right, we didn't look at anybody and we were all in ourselves. Today we do look at people, and we're not only connected in ourselves but connected with each other. Any other memories?
[Inaudible] Ah. It was a long  we won't say how long  but you remember saying to yourself, "Finally." Again, that milestone.
First Communion is one of the sacraments of initiation, so it's part of this continuing process of being initiated into the church and into the life of God. So let's treasure those memories. Sometimes memories just happen and they remain with us always. Sometimes we work hard to create those memories that will last and that will happen. What's gone into this day is a lot of work to create a memory that we pray and hope will last for a long, long time, especially that feeling of belonging to God, to your family, to your church, and of being very, very loved.