phlox in the fields may 15, 2005

beauty in the field may 15, 2005

busy cardinal may 15, 2005

May 17, 2005

Whoever receives this child Mk 9:30-37

Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. He was teaching his disciples and telling them, "The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise." But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him.

They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, "What were you arguing about on the way?" But they remained silent. For they had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all." Taking a child, he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it, he said to them, "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."
Accept the children in the name of Jesus, they are God's beloved. I have always thought that all children are closer to God. They have a spirit that is open to the ways of God and a ready compassion for the sufferings of others. They are in some ways helpless and more in need than adults who can care for themselves.

I wonder lately what has become of our current culture and society when the news is so full of stories of children who have been victimized by violent adults. How can we not treasure and protect our precious little ones? How have we come to such a sad point in our society? Often when I pray the Lord's prayer, I am visualizing myself speaking with God the Father in heaven but I picture the rows of pews of children from Blessed Sacrament Church in Paterson in front of me with the arms stretched up to God saying the prayer also. I pray especially for those children who live in that city under trying situations in poverty.