Saturday of the 19Th Week in Ordinary Time/ August 14, 2021
Gospel: Matthew 19:13-15
Friends, in today’s Gospel many children were brought to Jesus so that He might lay His hands on them and pray. However, the disciples rebuked them. But the Lord told His disciples to let the children come to Him, and never prevent them, for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to them. After that, He placed His hands on them and blessed them.
The Lord never despises everyone. The truth is, He welcomes and blesses everyone. He embraces everyone with His merciful love and gave them His forgiveness and healing. And this truth includes children. We knew that in their time, women and children are not so much given importance in society. This is probably one of the reasons why the disciples were trying to prevent them to come to the Master. But, the Lord changes everything. He corrected their mentality and teach them of God’s love and embrace; humility and simplicity like the little ones.
To serve and follow the Lord needs these virtues or values in life; humility, simplicity, love, and a merciful embrace. These are the requirements of becoming an authentic follower and disciple of the Lord. This is what Jesus also is teaching us today, “to be a little one.” And to be a ‘little one,’ means that we should humble ourselves before the Lord and before others; we should live a simple lifestyle which relies only on the Lord like children who depends on their parents; we should always show love and mercy towards those who need most of our love and mercy – the neglected, abandoned, rejected, and those who are despised in the society today. By these, we become little children doing the will of the father, and the Lord assures us, that His Kingdom belongs always to such.
Prayer
Abba, Father, thank You for Your Fatherly embrace. Thank You for sending us our Lord and Brother Jesus. May we always be faithful to You so that we may serve You and our brothers and sisters with Your love and mercy. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ Your Son who lives with You in the Unity of the Holy Spirit, One God Forever and ever. Amen.
JOURNEY towards the Perfect Communicator 