| (FIRST COMMUNION MASS HOMILY) April 28, 2002 Acts 6:1-7 + 1 Peter 2:4-9 + John 14: 1 12 |
| How many of you have heard of Moses? He was a great leader and prophet.In fact, a leader and a prophet is really the same person.He was born at a time when the People of Israel were slaves in Egypt, and God called him to lead them out of Egypt to a new land where they would be free and faithful to God.To get to that new land, they had to go a long way through the desert, and it took so long that they couldn’t take enough food to last the journey, so every morning, God would give them something to eat to keep them going on the journey Some people have called that food. “Way Bread.”- like bread to eat on the way. |
| Now later on the People of Israel got themselves practically back in slavery again when the Romans came to their country,and that’s about the time Jesus was born. So, a lot of them began to think of Jesus as though they had a new Moses who was going to lead them to a new land again- the land of heaven. |
| That’s a good way to think about Jesus this week as you came here with your family from hometo join your family of faith.It’s a good way to think about Jesus because we’re all on our waywith Jesus as leader and prophet. It’s a long journey It takes a whole lifetime to get to the freedom that Jesus has promised us with His Father,and it takes a lot of food to keep up your strength.It’s just like the first time when Moses led the people in the desert. So, God feeds us, just life before.God gives us food for the journey- “Way Bread” comes again,but this time it’s Holy Communion – Food for the Journey, the Body of Christ. |
| This is what Jesus gave to his disciples to keep them going, to keep them faithful, to keep them together on the journey· His Body and Blood in Holy Communion. |
| (Turning toward and Addressing the parents) Now my dear friends,you’ve done well since the first time you brought these children before us and introduced them into the family of faith.You have taught them to pray, to listen to God’s Word,and to forgive.You have taught them rituals or forgiveness as we celebrate in this family of faith.And now you bring them to the Lord’s Table to share with them the Bread of Life. |
| On that day when you first brought them before us, you gave evidence of your faith in the creed.I know ask your children to give this first witness to their faith on their own before you and this entire assembly. It is the faith into which they have been baptized,and the faith that will lead them safely home to the Father’s House. |
| (Turning back to the children, renew the Baptismal Promises) |
| Now, boys and girls, Jesus has gone before us to get things ready.Before he left, he told his disciples that He was the Way, the Truth and the Life.During the journey, Jesus expects us to be the Way for others. not a dead end and not a detour.You have to be the Way that leads others to GodHe expects us to the Truth for others: not a lie, or a fake, but the real thing that people can trust and believe.He expects us to be Life: to preserve life, and never take it or treat it badlyThis is what it means for us to be church and to life in the family of faith. to be the Way, to be the Truth, and to be the Life.If you’re ready to do that, then you should take Holy Communion today, and begin to pray that Jesus will save a place for you in His Father’s House. |