An omelet breakfast and a First Holy Communion

Recently, I was invited by an immigrant family in England to officiate at the First Holy Communion ceremony of their first child. I happily obliged, and stayed with them for three days prior to the function. The couple has two children, Ann-Rose and Albin. Ann-Rose was the communicant. 

As an experienced pastor I asked Ann-Rose about the preparations she underwent to receive Holy Communion at her local parish. I asked her some questions, which I regularly ask first-time communicants.  She answered them rather well. Still, I would have given her only a pass mark.

Since the moment I met these children they, especially Ann-Rose, appeared very cheerful and welcoming. She was very excited perhaps because she was going to receive Jesus. The ceremony was well-organized. Everybody was happy. 

The next day being a school holiday, both kids stayed home while the parents went to work. Assuming that the children were still sleeping, I came down early to the kitchen to make a cup of tea. To my surprise, Ann-Rose was downstairs waiting for me, and she greeted me.

 “Good morning uncle. You had a good sleep?” I answered yes.  I was wondering, was this not the same girl whose parents struggled to rouse up from bed the previous mornings? 

Having seen her mom offer me tea the previous mornings , she asked, “You want tea?”  
“Yes. I am going to make a cup of tea,” I answered. “No. I will make it for you,” she said.  “You want black tea, or with cream,” she inquired. “Black,” I replied. “How many bags? One or two? I know you don’t use sugar, ” she said.   

She appeared to be a very mature host sensitive to the needs of a guest. She started boiling water, and offered me a cup of strong black tea. While drinking, I told her that it was very tasty; a half-truth.  As soon as I finished tea, she asked, “Uncle shall I make you an omelet?” I asked her if she knew how to make an omelet.  “I have seen mom making it. I will try,” she said. 

In 30 minutes she served me an “omelet?”.  I asked her jokingly, “What shall I call this, omelet or a scrambled egg or any other name?” I think she grasped the humor, and with a smile she said, “As you like!” 

I enjoyed  the breakfast as if it was the best one that I had ever eaten.  Having finished it, I congratulated her, “Excellent, a good job.” I could see a beautiful smile of satisfaction on her face.  I later learned from her parents that it was the first time that she ever made a breakfast and tea herself.

Afterwards I asked her if her mom told her to prepare the breakfast for me. She said, “No, I have seen her preparing food for guests.” She added, “The teacher who prepared us for Holy Communion taught us that once we received Jesus, we should act like him; we have to be at the service of others.” 

I guessed, having received First Holy Communion, Ann-Rose was making use of the first opportunity to act like Jesus, serving someone who was in need of breakfast. Is it not the same thing that  Blessed Virgin Mary did as she received “First Holy Communion” at annunciation? Her first and spontaneous response was to rush to Elizabeth who was in need of help.

I regretted having given Ann-Rose only a pass mark after inquiring about her preparation for Holy Communion. I believe Ann-Rose deserved an A+ in her preparation for First Holy Communion. I was mistaken in giving her pass mark only.

This was a learning experience for me; the best preparation for First Holy Communion is not to teach children to memorize a few prayers, but to train them to act like Jesus and to be at the service of others. It is a miracle that after receiving Eucharist the recipients are transformed into Jesus. 

I will forever joyfully cherish in my memory the omelet this little girl prepared for me and more importantly the lesson that I learned from her kitchen.