To become like children is to have a child-like not childish ways of relating with God and others

It is 11th August 2020.  We celebrate the memorial of Saint Claire, Virgin and religious.

The readings are from Ezekiel 2:8-3:4; and the Gospel from Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14.

There is a child within each one of us.  Every child deserves love, respect, and care.

“From the mouths of children and of babes, You have found praise to foil the enemy.” (Psalm 8:2)

The qualities of children either grow up or shrink by the environment of nurturing love or narcissistic.  tendencies of the heredity.  Some are born so docile and obedient.  Most of us find hard to listen and learn.

We become rebellious in early childhood during the middle school.  We act out and ignore things once we have tested boundaries.

God invites us to nourish our lives with God’s Word.  Our life is enriched integrally by the Word we consume.  “Whoever eats this bread will live forever” (John 6:51).

Consuming the Word here means to absorb and make it assimilated.  This personalization of the Word changes our perspective and approach to people around and to ourselves.  When the Word becomes part and parcel of ourselves, “as sweet as honey in our mouth,” we mirror God and mind the needs of the others.  Having a feeling of oneness that brings change within and openness to the reality around.  In Paul’s own words, “I live, no it is not I, but Christ lives in me” (Gal 2:20).

The responsorial Psalm praises, “How sweet to my taste is your promise!” (Ps.119:103).

The Gospel invites us to emulate the qualities of children.  To become like children is to have a child-like not childish ways of relating with God and others.  We all need to acquire the qualities of being open, willing to learn, dependent, confident and to have trust like children.  The readings suggest that we need to be supple, and agile in learning without the boarders of prejudice.  Those cannot contribute enjoys criticising.

“It is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.” (Mt. 18:14).  The little ones here also mean the most vulnerable members of our society.  As we are inspired from the children, so we need to learn from the poverty of the poor ones of our community.  It is our moral duty to alleviate the pain of these little ones.  The Good Shepherd is never tired of looking for the lost ones and last ones in our hearts, homes, and homelands.  The desire and the intention of God is not to lose anyone can be realized through our charitable and merciful acts we show to the needy.  “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.”  (Mk 2:17).  May you have a good day.  God bless you.