DEFINING MOMENTS
May 20, 1017
Some things are so important to your life, you just never forget.
Good morning boys and girls. It’s been a few years since I was your age and in second grade, so let me ask you a question – do you still study vocabulary in school? I liked vocabulary when I was in school – learning to spell new words that I didn’t know and learning to define them. To define something is “to state the exact meaning of something.” Or it can also mean “to describe the basic qualities of something.” In other words, to define something is to identify what something is, but also what made it the way it is.
Things are not the only thing we define. Sometimes we can define a person. We can even define ourselves. When we define things, we try to discover the precise words to identify what that thing is. When we define a person, we try to discover the qualities that make that person who he or she is, but also the events in that person’s life that were so important, they helped them to become the person that they are. These events are called “defining moments” - moments in our life that change us -- move us -- define who and what we are about. Life has many defining moments: graduation from school, the place where we grow up, the experience of falling in love or being rejected, seeing a loved ones pass away, fighting illnesses, memorable trips, finding success, experiencing failure. But there will usually be one major defining moment that sets the pace of our life or that changes who we are or what we are doing. That defining moments have power – it can make us or they can break us. It can build us up to become a better person, or it can hurt us and diminish who we are.
Boys and girls, today is a defining moment in your lives. It is a day in your life that you will always remember! Why? Is it because of the beautiful dress or suit you’re wearing? Is it because of all the attention that your family and friends are giving you today? Is it because of the gifts you will receive or the party that you will have? No. It’s because today is a defining moment in your life. If you allow it, today will change you. It SHOULD change you! You should be a different person when you leave the church this afternoon than when you woke up this morning. Why? Because today you received the Body and Blood of Jesus! Today, you sit at the table of the Last Supper with Jesus and the Apostles. But it isn’t a “last supper” because Jesus invites you to feast on this meal, to feast on HIM, to receive his Body and Blood every Sunday, or even every day if you want to! Today, you and He have become ONE! Today, Jesus is not just physically present in the tabernacle of our church – YOU have become a tabernacle! Jesus is present in YOU!
Today Jesus demonstrates how much he loves you. Were you paying attention when I read the Gospel a few minutes ago. Today’s Gospel is different from most gospels that we read or hear. Because in today’s Gospel, Jesus gets ANGRY! He gets angry at the Apostles because they want to chase away the boys and girls who are trying to get near to him. And Jesus tells the Apostles, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them! It is to such as these that the Kingdom of God belongs!” Did you hear that? Jesus wants you near to him! Jesus wants to be near to YOU! And today, he shows you just how close he wants to be to you. Because, when you receive Communion today and EVERY time you receive communion, Jesus is closer to you than the person who is sitting on your right or on your left. Jesus is closer to you than your Grandma or Grandpa when they squeeze you tight with a hug. Today you and Jesus become ONE, because Jesus will be within you – within your body, within your heart, within your mind, within your soul! WOW!!!
But . . . will you allow him to remain there? Will you come back to this church tomorrow and next Sunday, and all the Sundays after that to receive him again? Will you try to know him and love him more each day by listening to his Word and following his example? Will you try to become better friends with Jesus by praying every day? Will you try to love HIM more by loving your mommy and your daddy, your brother and your sister, your friends, and even your enemies more?
Boys and girls, today is the day of your First Holy Communion, but today should be just the beginning. It should be the day you remember all your life as the day Jesus showed you how much he loves you. Often times when we love someone, we give them a gift to show just how much we love them. Today, Jesus gives YOU a gift. It is a far greater gift than any other present you will unwrap today – Because the gift that HE gives is the gift of himself - all of him . . . nothing held back. It is a present giftwrapped in simple bread and common wine. The gift of his BODY. The Gift of His BLOOD. The gift of his SOUL. The gift of his DIVINITY. It is the gift of his LOVE. I know that when someone shows ME how much they love me, that motivates and inspires me to want to show how much I love THEM. I know when someone gives me a gift, it makes me want to give them a gift too. He’s given himself to you. Will you give yourself to him? It is the only gift that he wants. It is the only gift worth giving.
Every day I pray this pray to remind myself to try to do that:
Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated Lord to thee.
Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my voice, and let it sing
Always , only for my King.
Take my lips and let them be,
Filled with messages from Thee.
Take my will and make it Thine.
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own;
Let it be Thy royal throne.
Take myself; and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee.
My hope today, boys and girls, is that that becomes your prayer. Because if it is and that’s the gift that you give back to Jesus and how you try to live your life, then May 20th 2017 isn’t just the day of your First Holy Communion; it’s not just one day in your life. It’s a day that has become a defining moment in your life.
May 9th, 1964
The day I received my First Holy Communion.
Some things are so important to your life, you just never forget.
