Nineteenth Saturday in Ordinary Time

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.

Children are great teachers about what it means to love unconditionally. They do this in both their way of loving and annoying. They have the potential to love their parents, grandparents, and other family members without reserve. In addition, they can push all our buttons and try our patience to the breaking point. However, this stress test also helps us to understand what it means to love without expectation of return just as Jesus loves us. He died for all of us on the cross because he loved us, but he would never force us to return his love. Instead, he lets us make our choice to love others as he did or to selfishly pick ourselves over others. When a child throws a tantrum or refuses to give us a hug or kiss, then we have a small taste of what Jesus goes through when we deny him through our words and works and instead choose evil over good. So the next time we are tempted to sin, perhaps we should imagine ourselves as a child before Christ and remember that our choice is between love and selfishness. Hopefully, we shall choose wisely and well.

Are we childlike in our unconditional love of God and others? How can we be more Christ-like when we are faced with people who refuse to return our love? How can we encourage children to grow in their love of God and others?

O Lord, give us hearts filled with childlike love.

Amen.