Mary Alice's 1st Communion

Just before Christmas, Mary Alice celebrated her first Communion.

Somehow, everything lined up in perfect harmony and Julia, Nate, both sets of grandparents, and Aunt Theresa were able to attend. (Cue the angels singing thanksgiving for living close to family once again.)

At our Parish, the parents attend the preparation classes with their children. Sebastian also ended up attending with Mary Alice and me.

As I sat by her side, coloring and listening to the lessons, I silently flipped through the memories of my first Communion classes. I was in college at Texas A&M, stubbornly telling anyone who would listen that I would never become Catholic. I sat in class with my college roommate, Kelly, and laughed as Father Dean kept telling me that I was already mostly Catholic. He was kind and funny – never condescending.

In a small room at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in College Station, Texas went over one topic at a time, carefully tugging at each thread to make sure that we were taught true Catholic teaching – not just someone else’s version of what Catholics believe.

And then… the gospel of John. I attended a Baptist elementary school, a charismatic non-denominational church until 1st grade, and a Methodist church which overflowed with people who loved Jesus with their entire being since 2nd grade. Surely I was the one who should be teaching about scripture. Right?

I shifted in my seat uncomfortably as we studied John 6:22-71.

53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” 59 He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”

61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! 63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit[e] and life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65 He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”

66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.

67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.

68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”

In verse 66, some disciples left and returned to their former way of life. They left.

They left. There is division about whether or not it is flesh and blood… or a symbol. Do we stand with the hard teachings of Christ? Do we trust Him? Or do we depart for the former way?

In college, I had to stand there face to face with that question.

I snapped back to the present and I watched as my sweet daughter never questioned, but trusted Him with her whole heart.

Yes, Lord. I still believe.

Thank you, Lord, for the amazing gift you give us in the Eucharist.