Max received his first Communion on Thanksgiving.

It’s a big deal.  A HUGE deal.

Why can’t I find the words to describe this great event?

It was overwhelming, wonderful and filled with God’s grace.

The opening hymn was one of Max’s faves. (Yes, our seven year old has favorite hymns, thanks in part to the Veggie Tales. It’s true.) As Max prepared to process down the aisle in front of Grandpa as presiding deacon, the opening notes of “For the Beauty of the Earth” filled the Cathedral. Our boy was calm and collected and we were proud as could be.

As it turned out, Susan – Max’s godmother – was reading that morning.  And the reading? Collossians 3:12-17, a favorite of ours that was read at our nuptial Mass.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

It was perfect.

The whole day was perfect.

And we were thankful – for our family, for God’s providence, for our son. Most of all, we were thankful for the ultimate feast of thanksgiving,  the gift of Christ himself in the Eucharist.

“For we are fed with that which the angels view with trepidation and which they cannot contemplate without fear because of Its splendor. We become one with Him: we become one Body and one Flesh with Christ.”… “Jesus, for the burning love He bore us, wished to unite Himself so closely to us that we should become one and the same with Him for such is the dream of true lovers.”                                                                                                                                                                                                           – St. John Chrysostom
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