Thamwar Monsang csc –
Readings: Josh 24: 14- 29; Mt 19: 13- 15
The Gospel invites us to reflect on the theme “let the children come to me”. Some of the loving parents brought their children to Jesus believing that, if he would bless them, pray for them, and place his hands-on them, the children will be blessed, protected, and healed.
For, they had seen the amazing things Jesus had done for others. But the disciples stopped them. However, Jesus rebuked them for stopping and disregarding the children. His action indeed revealed that it is he who determines whom he will bless. No human being can determine for him.
Jesus loved the children and considered them as the citizens of his kingdom. We need to imitate this attitude of Jesus in our relationship with children. One day Pope Francis while interacting with the children and staff of Pope John XXIII community said, “God knows us each by our name and face and each person is a unique son or daughter of God and a brother or sister of Jesus and so those who assist the children are called to look at each child with the eyesof God”.
Today’s gospel reading also reminds us that the children demonstrate the traits needed to enter heaven., May the messages of the reading inspire us to let go our emotional baggage, masked life, defensiveness, etc. to possess the childlike qualities and to enjoy living in the presence of the Lord.