Mark 10:13-16
Today’s gospel reading talks about
children and the kingdom of God. People are bringing their children to Jesus to
be blessed by Him. But His disciples rebuke them. Why? The text does not say
it. But Jesus is indignant about this and gives a lesson about the nature of
God’s Kingdom and the people He expects to be part of it. “Amen, I say to you,
whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it”. It
is a strong message for us especially on an occasion like this as we pray and
contemplate the holy life of the Little Audrey.
I think, in a context like this, a
child is a symbol of humility, obedience, trust, love, but also weakness. This
is both an image, and a teaching to us that Christian life is not about being
the greatest, or the first, but rather about seeing other people as important as
you are and this not in degree - not in measurement, but rather in love of God.
In this life, we are all precious in God’s eyes, and every human being has a
particular place and purpose in society. Jesus uses this image of children to convey
this message that we too should be like children. He is not telling us to act
like a child; rather, he wants us to trust like a child; to love like a child;
to humble ourselves like a child.
It
is only when we take and live these qualities of a child that we can be able to
spread God’s love and mercy in the world. Life lived according to the way of
Christ is a life of opening ones arms and welcoming people in love; showing
them that we care for them and that God loves them. It requires the recognition
that it is only God who is important, and God is not in strange, powerful, or
important things; God is found in simple things, in lowly things, in ordinary
things.
As
we pray with and through the intercession of Audrey Marie Santo, may the Lord
give us a heart of a child.
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