Nate was ordained to the Aaronic priesthood last week on his birthday! How cool is that. This week was his first week having the opportunity to pass the sacrament.
[Can I just say how nice it is that we have so many deacons right now. When we first moved in to this ward three and half years ago Erik was the only deacon for awhile. Slowly we've added to a few boys his age group.]
I watched as Nate brought the bread tray back to the sacrament table. His right hand was holding the tray and with his left hand he reached in to get a piece of bread. Only then did he see the 16-year-old priest holding out his hand for the tray and didn't realize that he needed to hand the priest his tray and let the priest offer the tray back to Nate for him to take his piece of bread.
I'm sure Nate was embarrassed by this but no one in the audience even noticed and next week he'll know what to do.
But it made me think about the entire process.
Those two priests who pray over the bread and water at the table (or altar) are standing as a representation of Jesus Christ. As one of the priests hands the bread and water trays to the deacons, he is asking that the atonement be taken to the congregation. The deacons then stand as representatives of Christ by offering the atonement to us, the congregation. We can then either accept that offering and gift and partake or we can reject that offering and pass the tray by us.
The offering of the bread and water is not limited to members only. It is freely given to everyone in attendance . . . just like Jesus Christ's sacrifice was made for each and every person. His is a gift freely given to everyone.
When Nate did not give up the tray to the priest he was in essence taking something that had not been offered to him. It was not his to take.
Ultimately the choice is ours. We are not coerced or prodded. The Savior stands as those deacons stand waiting to see whether we will accept his gift or not.
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