GOSPEL POWER l AUGUST 13, 2022 - Saturday of 19th Week in Ordinary Time

Saint Pontian, pope and martyr l Saint Hippolytus, priest and martyr

Gospel: Mt 19:13-15 

13Little children were being brought to Jesus in order that he might  lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples spoke sternly to those  who brought them; 14but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to  me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom  of heaven belongs.” 15And he laid his hands on them and went on  his way. 

The disciples have just been taught in the previous chapter  that children are the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven  (cf. Mt 18:1-5). The teaching was even accompanied by an  admonition not to despise the children (Mt 18:10), but instead to  look to them as models of Kingdom-greatness (Mt 18:4). That is why  the disciples’ dismissive attitude toward the children in this episode  is rather surprising. Their failure to assimilate the words of Jesus is  a simple indicator of how hard it is for adults to undo society’s mental  conditionings and to be open to something new and different. Their  disposition is exactly the opposite of children’s. No wonder Jesus  repeats here his previous declaration that the Kingdom belongs to  children. Like the disciples, we, adults, need to relearn childlikeness,  that we may be numbered among the little ones who are citizens of  God’s Kingdom. Lord Jesus, help us to rediscover childlikeness and to become at home  with such disposition. Amen