Reflection for Saturday 19th Week of Ordinary Time

By


Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Director, Social Action Movement, Don Bosco Bidar


Today's WORD of GOD

Matthew 19: 13 -15

Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”


Today's Reflection

“Turn & Go to GOD!” is the Call of the WORD of GOD Today. 

In the 1st Reading, GOD Summons the house of Israel, “Repent & Turn from All Your Transgressions … Make Yourselves a New hear & a New Spirit… so Turn & Live”.

In the Gospel too, JESUS Declares, “Let the Little Children Come to ME & Do Not Hinder Them, for to such Belongs the Kingdom of Heaven”.

We can Elicit a Few Indicators for Our Life: 

1st, We Need to Become Childlike. 

This Means that We should Become Clean with a New 💓 & a New Spirit. 

This is a Rebirth, Being Dead to Sin, Repentant Over Our Iniquities. 

The More We Become like Little Children, the More We will Desire to Go to JESUS, & We will have Free Access to HIM.

2ndly, We Need to Become Aware of Our Great Responsibility to Children. 

Whatever the Role, as a Parent, a Teacher, Elder, Priest, or Religious, All of Us have a Bounden Duty Toward Children, & that is to Lead Them Closer to JESUS.

It is then a Big Question Mark about how Many of These Remain Conscious & Serious about Their Responsibility Toward Children. 

How Many of Us Neglect Our Duty? 

How Many of Us Hinder Them from Going to JESUS? These Ways of Hindering can be Varied. 

It can be Due to Our Own Indifference & Lukewarmness; Our Lack of Interest & Concern for Them; Our Own Unedifying Life; or Our Own Lack of Conviction & Sound Knowledge.

Often, We may just Shirk Our Responsibility Saying that the Children must Not be Forced; They must be Left Free to Decide by Themselves; Their Freedom must Not be Curtailed. 

But All These Arguments may be Mostly Evasions & Escaping from the Trouble & Sacrifice of Training & Forming Them.

There are Many who are so Concerned to Provide the Children with Everything that They Demand, with the Best They May or even May Not Afford. 

They Give Them Money, Clothes, Comforts, Education, Job, Marriage, etc. 

But how Many Really Think of Imparting Them GOD-Fearing Nature, & Good Values? 

How Many Train the Children in Becoming Good Human Beings?

We Need to Go Near to JESUS, Get Closer to HIM, & Receive HIS Touch & Blessing. 

For Only the Touch of JESUS can Transform Us into Little Children & Take Us to the Kingdom.

Have a fabulous day and an awesome weekend.