Gospel Reading: Mt 17:14-20
Children were brought to Jesus that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.
After he placed his hands on them, he went away.
REFLECTION
Let the children come to me
While the disciples rebuke people for disturbing the Master with their children, Jesus welcomes the children. He is not bothered by their noise and behavior. He respects the wish of those who ask him to lay his hands on the children.
Laying one’s hands is done for the sick or for people sent on mission. Here the wish of people is for Jesus to heal their children’s infirmities or to strengthen them against illness. Children are fragile. They easily get sick. They need assistance and protection from their parents and from the Lord. By welcoming the children, Jesus graces their parents.
The children, in turn, are a grace to Jesus who points to them as models for belonging to the Kingdom of heaven.
Children react spontaneously. They are not judgmental. When they reject an offer, they are not offensive. Because of children, adults come together and unite.
Thus, while people in the Gospel bring their children to Jesus, the children end up bringing their parents to the Lord.
Do you love children? Do you have childlike qualities?
If you have lost your childlike innocence, What can you do to regain it?
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SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord,” ST PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.