What do children know about God?

This past weekend, I had the privilege of attending a first communion mass for one of my young cousins. He, along with about thirty other second-graders, received the Eucharist for the first time.

I don't remeber much about my first communion, other then being disappointed that all of my presents were religious in nature (I wanted G.I. Joes and Transformers). I certainly don't remember understanding anything about the theology of the Eucharist. Had you asked me, I would have replied that transubstantiation was something Optimus Prime did. Even the reality of the Real Presence likely escaped me. I just knew that was Jesus up there, and I wanted to go up there and get him like everyone else in the church did.

As my cousin's first communion mass progressed, I found myself almost looking down on those thoughts, since I now have a much more educated approach to the Eucharist. After all, I can quote scripture to defend the Real Presence. I can explain Aquinas' use of Aristotle's philosophy of substance and accidence to describe transubstantiation. I understand the Eucharist. I understand it better than all of these children, they can't possibly be prepared to receive the Eucharist, just as I wasn't prepared at that age.

Notice all of those I's in that last paragraph? Pride can run wild so easily, can't it? As my mind conntinued to wander, I stumbled upon the beginning of Matthew's chapter 18.

At that time the disciples approached Jesus and said, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, "Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:1-4)

Then it hit me. Wow, I'm just like one of the disciples, and Jesus is sending me a message. These children, like me at my first communion, don't understand the doctrine. Yet they believe, and their faith is stronger than mine, because it depends completely on God. My so-called faith, which I have built on the rock of my own understanding, won't stand up to trials, because my understanding really isn't that good. If faith is based on understanding, then Augustine and Aquinas and Pope Benedict XVI can look at me and say "We understand it better than Josh, he can't possibly be prepared to receive the Eucharist." Sound familiar?

I thank God that faith is not based on understanding, but on Grace, and I pray for the humility to remember that. St. Thomas Aquinas, pray for me. Mary, Mother of God, pray for me.