Reflections for Saturday, Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Today's Word

Mathew: 19:14 "but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the Kingdom of Heaven belongs.”


Today's Reflection

Very often in the gospels we find Jesus and his disciples at odds with each other.

We have a good example of that in today’s gospel reading.

Children were brought to Jesus, presumably by their parents, for Jesus to lay his hands on them in blessing.

The disciples turned them away and Jesus has to rebuke them, calling on them not to stop children from coming to him.

Why the disciples would try to stop parents from bringing their children to Jesus is not clear.

What is clear is Jesus’ insistence that children be allowed have free and complete access to him.

He is upholding the dignity of children and declaring that they are to have a central place in the community’s life and worship.

Whenever parents or grandparents or teachers bring children to Jesus in any way, they are doing something that the risen Lord delights in and strongly desires.

As a community of faith, we have a calling from the Lord to open up the treasures of the gospel to our children and our young people.

We have to keep searching for new and creative ways of doing this.

Jesus goes on to declare that not only are children to have a central place in the community’s life, but that as adults we have something to learn from them.

It is to such as these children, Jesus says, that the kingdom of God belongs.


Resolution

Lers resolve to take heed to the suggestion that, if we are to enter the kingdom of God, we need something of that trusting and open response to the gift of the gospel that comes natural to his children.


SAINT OF THE DAY

ST. MAXMILLIAN KOLBE

Today we celebrate the Feast of St Maximillian Kolbe, who was called by Pope St John Paul II as the "Patron Saint of our Difficult Century!”

May the words of this Heroic Saint, who volunteered to die in place of a stranger in the Nazi death camp of Auschwitz, be an inspiration for us:

"The most deadly poison of our times is indifference.

And this happens, although the praise of God should know no limits.

Let us strive, therefore, to praise Him…to the greatest extent of our powers!”

Let us seek the Intercession of the great Saint that we may avoid the tendency to Reject People...And instead, we may be.... Responsible towards others... Receptive to others.. and Redeem and Restore the lives of others!

And thus build happy and loving homes!

May we always understand that “our attitude in life makes a world of difference!”

Seeing the world through the eyes of a child – in openness, sincerity, wonder and innocence – can help us to have “a wonderful day,” every day of our life!

Good Morning

God bless you

Happy Weekend

Happy feast of St. MacMillan Kolbe