THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM
Introduction
It is true that we often suffer the consequences or enjoy the benefits of the deeds of others, good or bad, that there is a solidarity in sin. Yet, Ezekiel points out for us today, that each is personally responsible for the good or evil one does. And so, he calls the people out of their fatalistic attitude. As God’s sons and daughters, we should renew ourselves and personally commit ourselves to all that is good.
Few people today take Jesus’ words seriously when he says: “To such as these little children the kingdom of heaven belongs.” Many, for example, discredit the spirituality of the little way of St. Therese of Lisieux. We speak of adulthood in Christ, of a human and spiritual maturity. And yet, true adulthood consists in what God wanted us to be in Jesus Christ, in being receptive to the Gospel. To the disciples, who have no use for children and who want to cut the Gospel to the measure of their petty ideas, Jesus holds up the child not as a sign of innocence but as a model of openness to God and to the Good News of his Son. It is the entrance ticket to the kingdom.
Opening Prayer
Lord our God,
you love all that is little and humble.
As a child seeks refuge in the arms of its parents,
may our strength be to let you carry us.
Teach us through little children
not to boast of anything we have
or anything we have done
but to be open to and receptive of your grace.
For you are our greatness and richness
through Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen!
1 Reading – EZEKIEL 18:1-10, 13B, 30-32
The word of the LORD came to me: Son of man, what is the meaning of this proverb that you recite in the land of Israel: “Fathers have eaten green grapes, thus their children’s teeth are on edge”? As I live, says the Lord GOD: I swear that there shall no longer be anyone among you who will repeat this proverb in Israel. For all lives are mine; the life of the father is like the life of the son, both are mine; only the one who sins shall die. If a man is virtuous, if he does what is right and just, if he does not eat on the mountains, nor raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel; if he does not defile his neighbor’s wife, nor have relations with a woman in her menstrual period; if he oppresses no one, gives back the pledge received for a debt, commits no robbery; if he gives food to the hungry and clothes the naked; if he does not lend at interest nor exact usury; if he holds off from evildoing, judges fairly between a man and his opponent; if he lives by my statutes and is careful to observe my ordinances, that man is virtuous, he shall surely live, says the Lord GOD. But if he begets a son who is a thief, a murderer, or lends at interest and exacts usury, this son certainly shall not live. Because he practiced all these abominations, he shall surely die; his death shall be his own fault. Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel, each one according to his ways, says the Lord GOD. Turn and be converted from all your crimes, that they may be no cause of guilt for you. Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed, and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies, says the Lord GOD. Return and live!
Responsorial PSALM 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19
R. (12a) Create a clean heart in me, O God.
A clean heart create for me, O God;
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me. R.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners shall return to you. R.
For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. R.
Alleluia – Cf. MATTHEW 11:25
Alleluia, alleluia.
25 Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel – MATTHEW 19:13-15
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.
Commentary
Blessing Children
“Let the children be!” must ring aloud repeatedly as a command in the conscience of the modern world for many reasons, starting with the issue of abortion and all the way to the issue of climate change. The world seems to have the attitude of the disciples in today’s story: children are a nuisance to the adult world. One who chooses abortion does so because the baby in the womb, for whatever reason, has become a hindrance and nuisance to one’s peaceful life. We force-fit students to a kind of education system that is meant to shape the world after our own desires and projects. We recklessly use up the resources of the world with no care for its impact on ecology and thereby leave our children with a world that is nearly impossible to live in. Jesus laid hands on children and blessed them. We can also reach out and bless our children by counting in their interests and future.
Intentions
– That all of us may love and respect children and all that is little and brittle, we pray:
– That those who have promised fidelity in marriage may remain faithful to each other, we pray:
– That out of gratitude for all God has given us, we may be faithful in our love for him and for people, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
God our Father,
we remember that when you appeared among us,
you came in your Son as a little child
dependent on people.
May we accept you with a child’s heart,
trusting in you and your love,
admiring you for all the great things
you do among us
and loving you in return
with the spontaneous, uncomplicated love of children.
We ask this in the name of Jesus, the Lord. Amen!
Prayer after Communion
Lord our God,
we thank you for letting Jesus come among us
in the simplicity of a family meal.
This is an occasion for us to pray
for our children and their parents.
Dispose parents to let their children
feel and taste in their care and love
that you God, care and love
all that is fragile and little.
We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen!
Blessing
Let us stand before God in all humility, aware of how much we owe him. And ask God to bless you, and especially your children: the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!