Be Doers of the Word
It was a very cold, sunny morning. Excitement filled the nave as the children gathered, the girls in their white dresses, the boys in suits and ties. Parents and grandparents, siblings and aunts and uncles looked for their reserved pews. The other parishioners found seats where they could. It was First Communion Day, and it was special.
He came in quietly after everything had started. He was tall and stooped slightly coming through the door. He took a seat along the back wall, taking off his hat. His clothes were worn and he needed a bath. He mouthed the words of the common prayers, his voice barely a whisper. There was nothing threatening about him, but people turned to stare.
The children were still shiny and bright in their special clothes, oblivious to the stranger. Their parents, though, noticed. Several came up during that hour, saying the man needed to be escorted outside, that he didn’t belong, that he was ruining this special day. He stayed quiet and respectful, seeming not to notice the whispers and the hostile stares. When it was time for Communion, he came forward with everyone else.
After the last song the families of the children filed out, avoiding the stranger, eager to get to their brunches and cakes and presents. Except for one group. The little girl in her white dress and gloves, veil still hanging perfectly from her long hair, stood with her parents and siblings as they asked the man, would he please join them for lunch?
The man declined, put his hat on and left the church. The family went off to their party. As I cleaned up in the now-silent church, under the man’s chair I found a small piece of paper with a handwritten prayer. His prayer. I cried for the man, for the families who would have turned him back out into the cold, denying him the gift of the Eucharist that they wanted for their children. I cried for my own initial sense of misgiving when he entered. And I gave thanks for the family who showed mercy and love, and for the God who gave us his Son for our salvation.
For if a person with gold rings and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and if a poor person in dirty clothes also comes in, and if you take notice of the one wearing the fines clothes and say, “Have a seat here, please,” while to the one who is poor you say, “Stand there,” or, “Sit at my feet,” have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him? James 2:2-5