Wide-eyed with wonder

During one of our Masses on the fourth Sunday of Advent we baptized an infant, the second child for this young family and an addition as well to the extended family with young cousins all gathered around the baptismal font. They were allowed in close, in front of the adults, so that they could see and hear and touch and smell the occasion. In rapt attention they watched as their baby was anointed with oil and water was poured over her head and a candle was set alight just for her. One of the cousins swished her hand through the running waters of the font and practiced blessing herself and her little sister. Some of the children stood on their tiptoes as if to get closer and take in more of the fragrant chrism oil. In witnessing this I was struck with the thought that these wide-eyed little children, filled with wonder, were perhaps appreciating the sacrament at a level often overlooked by the older and wiser of us who sometimes believe we have taken in all we need to understand about these treasures from God.

Just a few days later at the first Vigil Mass of Christmas Eve we blessed the crèche in the presence of the children's choir and many of the young families of the parish and school. Again the awe and wonder was readily apparent in the faces of the young children. This simple familiar scene set in statuary now radiated a special significance to them as they could see and imagine the new Christ child before them. Families made a point to stay after the Mass to gather at the crèche to pray, to take pictures and to just be with the Holy Family. Isn't it interesting that it is the extraordinary perception and animation of a young child that often brings the grown-up around to take a closer look at what may have been missed or perhaps forgotten?

There is a great mixture of genius and mystery designed into our Catholic liturgy. All of our senses are provoked to the purpose of impressing upon our memories these outward signs that signify another, more significant reality. But the point here is, that we mustn't let ourselves become complacent and give short shrift to the present experience. We must be present to it to fully appreciate the beauty, truth and the love of God that is being expressed.

The young child does not yet have the rational tools to over-think things. He makes sense of his world primarily from what his five senses tell him. When his senses are pleased by the beautiful his nature recognizes the truth and goodness that is there and he accepts them with awe and wonder. And so it should be the aim for the rest of us of all ages to sharpen our awareness of the beauty that is before us in the liturgy that we may be present to the gift we are given.