A Message from Fr. Jay
Dear Friends,
I read a cute, but embarrassing, story that happened to a family on a Sunday. The lady of the house was entertaining some guests who had come unannounced. When she was in their presence, she was all smiles. But, when she went into the kitchen, she was seething with anger and was cursing them. She didn’t realize her five-year-old daughter accompanied her, trying to help.
It was lunch time. The Dad asked the child to say a prayer before meals. The child said, “But I don’t know any prayer.” The Dad said, “Don’t worry, dear. Just say what Mom says.” The child closed her eyes and prayed: “God, why do you have to send these guests on a Sunday, to spoil my day? Amen”. Beware! Children are ‘listening’ even when we say nothing to them.
I enjoy asking children questions and admire their innocence, smartness, and wisdom in their replies. I recall my own childhood days and remember how I was celebrated by family and others. I sometimes wish I could still be in my childhood with the same innocence, smartness, and wisdom that Jesus in the gospel this week portrays as symbols of humility.
Humility has an ‘ever-learning attitude’. It is a tool to fight pride constantly. As per the words of Jesus, we need to become child-like, after all we are all children of God. The second reading clearly lists out the effects of pride and tells us to ask God for His grace with all humility.
It is a shame that our law makers try to crush children by denying their right to life by promoting abortion laws under flowery words of women’s health and by preserving gun laws that kill and victimize the children to violence. Please remember to vote NO on Amendment 4.
Let us believe that children are the active mouth pieces of God. We remember children in war situations, in broken family situations, among refugees and migrant communities. Every child who is denied life, killed or victimized unjustly by the pride and selfishness of humans, will call for accountability before God and God hears the cry of a child!
God Bless,
Fr. Jay Raju
Reading 1: Wisdom 2:12, 17-20
Reading 11: James 3:16- 4:3
Gospel: Mark 9:30-37
