Jesus said, "Let the children come to me; and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14

In my church at the beginning of the Liturgy of the Word, the presider invites the children to depart from the adult assembly for their own special service. As they do this, the first reader approaches the ambo and waits (or should) until all is cleared and quiet enough for the assembly to hear the beginning of the first reading.

But some lectors will "jump the gun" while the assembly is still delighting in all the little ones prancing off; and by the time all is quiet, the lector is already into the reading, causing the assembly to miss the important introductory parts.

In the lector's defense, however, it takes patience to stand still at the ambo and smile at the "little cuties" along with the assembly until all is quiet. So what I do to avoid looking like a thoroughbred about to spring out of the gate is stand a couple of steps away from the ambo, enjoy the "kids’ parade" along with the assembly and not step up to the microphone until all is calm.

The departure of the little ones at the beginning of the Liturgy of the Word is a highlight event in many churches; but when a lector overshadows it by rushing back to the "adult part" of the Mass too soon, it can dampen this joyous moment for the assembly, and especially for the parents of those little ones.

Jesus loved the children, and we ought to follow his example.