Childish versus Child-like

Memorial of Saint Jerome, Doctor of the Church

~~~ Zechariah 8:1-8 ~~~ Psalm 102 ~~~ Luke 9:46-50 ~~~

 

Although the disciples did not reveal to Jesus

what they were arguing over, he knew.

The disciples were being childish instead of being child-like.

 

Jesus realized the intention of their hearts...

 

Jesus realizes that the disciples are confused about what is really important.

It will never be about which one of them deserves the most attention...

the best seat at the table...

They are to avoid competition among themselves.

They are to withhold judgment of others.

 

Children hold the key to much of what Jesus wants to teach us.

Children are the hope of the future.

Children represent new life; a life free of negativity.

 

The city shall be filled with boys and girls playing in its streets.

Look to the children; they emulate the kingdom of heaven.

The innocence and purity of a little child serves to remind

us of the goodness of God.

 

The children of your servants shall abide,
and their posterity shall continue in your presence.

 

Children carry forward for generations what has been given to them.

It is important for us to teach them well.

Children see no boundaries real or perceived.

Children reach out to others in need.

Children love unconditionally.

 

 

Every child comes into this world as a unique creation of God.

 

“Whoever receives this child in my name receives me,
and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.
For the one who is least among all of you
is the one who is the greatest.”

Being in the presence of children

 is a reminder of how life was when we too were children.

It would indeed be a sad community when children were not present.

God is present in each of us, but his presence in a child is the most beautiful.

 

Just to gaze at a newborn is to gaze upon the face of God.

Children are a gift from God.

 

Blessings in being child-like as opposed to being childish.

Purified in Humility

~~~ Sirach 2:1-11~~~ Psalm 37 ~~~ Mark 9:30-37 ~~~

 

For in fire gold and silver are tested,
and worthy people in the crucible of humiliation.

 

Precious metals are purified in the fire.

During our trial and tribulations we too are purified.

Our true character comes to the surface much like butter rises to the top

when we are faced with difficulties.

trust in him, and he will direct your way

 

Jesus questions the apostles about their arguments along the way.

Their first reaction was one of embarrassment;

they remained silent.

He sits them down and has a heart to heart talk with them.

 

“If anyone wishes to be first,
he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”

 

 

Persevere in the Lord and you will find peace.

Come to him in humility.

Come to him as a little child.

 

The Lord will envelope you in his arms.

There is no need to argue who will be first.

We have all been chosen to be his own.

 

Commit your life to the Lord, and he will help you.

God Upholds Our Life

~~~ Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time ~~~

 

~~~ Wisdom 2:12, 17-20 ~~~ Psalm 54 ~~~ James 3:16-4:3 ~~~ Mark 9: 30-37 ~~~

 

In today's gospel the apostles are acting like children...as they discuss who is greater.

It seems these men were doing some of their power 'chest beating'...

boasting about their accomplishments and comparing themselves to one another.

 

"If anyone wishes to be first,
he shall be the last of all and the servant of all."

 

Jesus is letting them know that whatever they are arguing

about is of no relevance to him.

He does not care to hear their boasting.

He will not join them in their 'chest beating' exercise.

 

Instead...

Jesus picking up a little child quickly puts them in their place.

 

"Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me;
and whoever receives me,
receives not me but the One who sent me."

 

What can a helpless child boast about?

A child is totally dependent on their parents for everything.

I child must be taken care of and protected.

 

Jesus is saying to the apostles stop arguing among yourselves...

I am all you need.

I will provide for your needs.

What you think you have accomplished will mean nothing in my kingdom.

Stop comparing yourselves to one another;

in my eyes you are equal.

You are created in the image and likeness of God.

 

This is precisely why you have been chosen.

 

"...the wisdom from above is first of all pure,
then peaceable, gentle, compliant,
full of mercy and good fruits,
without inconstancy or insincerity..."

 

The wisdom from above...God...

is childlike in a way...

Gentle, compliant, full of mercy, and good fruits.

Children have this remarkable ability to accept all people.

Children are quick to forgive wrongdoings.

Children are sincere in a pure way.

 

Discontent, jealousy, and comparisons breed unhealthy resentments.

Jesus would not allow these to become diving forces among his apostles.

 

The psalmist reminds us that it is God who upholds our life.

Allow God to Pray Over You

~~~ Ez 18:1-10, 13b, 30-32 ~~~ Psalm 51 ~~~ Matthew 19:13-15 ~~~

Create a clean heart in me, O God.

The prophet Ezekiel gives us a lengthy, detailed list of the things

God does not want us to do.

This list is mirrored through the commandments.

In reading this list we are encouraged to lead an exemplary life.

We are encouraged to live a virtuous life.

"...If a man is virtuous—if he does what is right and just..."

To be virtuous you are honest, caring, fair, compassionate,

faithful, and truthful.

Sounds easy enough, but there is one catch...

you must live this way in all areas of your life

every day.

Why wouldn't you want to live a virtuous life all the time?

Because we are human...we have difficulties being consistent.

We have good intentions, but we are weak.

We mean to do well and follow the Lord's commands,

but our actions often miss the mark.

"...man is virtuous—he shall surely live, says the Lord GOD."

God understands well our weaknesses and so he planned for it.

He wants us to have hope.

He does not want us to throw up our hands

when we fail and walk away.

"...Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed,
and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit."

The psalmist wrote psalm fifty-one with this promise from God in mind.

We can ask God every day to create in us a clean heart.

We can always return to God.

He is here for us just as the father in the parable if the prodigal son.

Maybe we do not deserve this great compassion and mercy from God,

but we can humbly recognize and accept it.

God is waiting for us to return to him as many times as is necessary

no matter how long we live.

Come to God with your frustrations;

 with how challenging it is to live virtuously every day.

God will touch your heart with love.

Jesus layed hands and prayed over the little children.

Perhaps his prayer over them was for their heart to

be open. Perhaps he prayed so that they would have the desire

firmly planted into their heart to return to God time after time.

Just for today imagine God praying over you...

praying for you...

laying his hands on you...

touching your heart.

If necessary return to your childhood and let God hold you.

A Child's Offering

~~~ Acts 5: 34-42 ~~~ Psalm 27 ~~~ John 6: 1-15 ~~~

One of the Pharisees speaks up on behalf of the apostles; stopping their execution. He is thinking, as in the past, the whole movement would soon blow over. They were just to be patient and wait. If they thought this nonsense was just of men then it would soon die a normal death...lack of interest. They foolishly thought this was just a fad and would pass. The apostles gladly accepted the flogging sentence and again ignored the demand to stop speaking in the name of Jesus. Of course they did not comply.

The apostles held tightly to the words of Psalm 27...

“The Lord is my light and my salvation; of whom should I fear?”

“...I seek to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.”

They believed these words and it was evident through their actions.

They were so confident in their faith that they nearly mocked the ruling Sanhedrin to their faces. You should be very careful if you ever find yourself in contradiction with the will of God. Fighting against God is not a pretty site. Fighting against God just leaves you empty, alone, and often bitter.

It is far better to be like little children and trust in God’s plan.

Nothing is ever wasted with God. Whatever you bring before God he will use and in fact he will multiply it many times over. Do not ever feel as if you have nothing to offer God.

Remember he fed five thousand with a child’s offering of ‘five barley loaves and only two fish.’ Jesus always gives thanks to the Father first. I think that is the clue to abundance...giving thanks first. Jesus does not worry that the meager offering will insufficient...he gives thanks for the offering that it is.

Come without money...come to the table of the Lord...there will be leftovers.

 Even the smallest fragments together create abundance.

Give to God whatever you have no matter how small or seemingly insignificant

he can and will put it to good use.

The offering of a child was enough to feed five thousand...

How encouraging is that?