Thursday, November 02, 2006

Hinder Not the Little Children

At my church one of our deacons buys the communion bread for us on Sunday mornings from Three Brothers Bakery. They really know how to make a great challah loaf. I tell you, if you've ever had this stuff for communion you'll never go back to those "chiclets" again.

A few Sundays ago we had a few unopened loaves of communion bread after the worship service and I was one of the glad recipients of a leftover loaf. On Monday I cooked breakfast for the Youngest Sister and the Brother. The scrambled eggs were begging for some of that bread, so I broke a few pieces off for all three of us. It was very tasty, I must admit.

The Youngest Sister, who is five years old was eagerly chowing down. We've talked with her about how, in our faith tradition, communion is a ritual only for those who have claimed aloud that they are followers of Jesus. You can imagine that as one who is usually only an observer of communion she must have been tickled pink to be eating this bread.

It just never occurred to me that she would connect the bread on the plate of scrambled eggs with the body of Christ.

I say that because I turned from the kitchen sink just in time to see her jaws packed like a chipmunk and a piece of bread hanging out of her mouth. She exclaimed, "Hey Dad, Jesus' body tastes great!"

If we each have to come to the kingdom as a little child, would you pass me a really really big piece of that bread?

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