It seems like each of our kids has gone through a phase where they just need to be held during Mass. Of course, babies do. But even our five-year-old is still adamant about it.
He’s probably pushing the limit at this point. This past weekend, he spent the entire Mass either on my lap while we were sitting, in my arms while we were standing, or even half-resting on the pew while I was kneeling.
And yet, far from being frustrated by it (though, at times, he can be frustrating), I’ve come to cherish it. Because soon enough, he won’t be small enough to hold. These moments are fleeting.
But more than that, something struck me: coming to Mass just to be held by his father is a beautiful image of what we’re all longing for.
Isn’t that what we hope for at Mass? To be held by the Father?
To rest in His presence.
To be close to Him.
To be reassured, comforted, and loved.
Maybe my son has it right. Maybe we all need to come before God with that same trust—the desire to simply be held.