Word to the Wise
Monday, September 28, 2015 - Monday in the 26th Week in Ordinary Time
[Zech 8:1-8 and Luke 9:46-50]An argument arose amng the disciples about which of them was the greatest. Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a chld and placed it by his side and said to them, "Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest." [Luke]
SEPTEMBER 28 SS. DOMINIC IBANEZ, JAMES TOMONAGA, LAWRENCE RUIZ AND COMPANIONS [Dominican Martyrs in Japan]
In the Jewish and Greco-Roman world of Jesus' time, children had very little status at all either legally or personally. They were the "least" in ordinary society. By choosing a child to make his point about "greatness," Jesus did not demonstrate the child-centered culture that is characteristic of our time, but simply illustrated what he meant to the disciples. One wonders if the disciples then had an argument about who was the "least" among them!
At the same time, Jesus' choice of the child can serve as a point of consideration for us in light of the clear example of Pope Francis during his visit to the U.S.A.. Every auto procession has included small children being brought over to the "popemobile" to be kissed and/or blessed by Pope Francis. He reminds us in his addresses that the children are the future of the Church.
Child-abuse is an ugly fact in our society. If receiving a child in Christ's name is the same as receiving Christ, then it seems to me that the abuse of a child is an abuse of Christ. The sickness that causes this abuse in its many manifestations from sex-trade to pornography to physical/sexual abuse is one of the most terrible scourges imaginable. And the "culture of indifference" that Pope Francis condemns, with its "throw-away" attitude that supports abortion as a "right" of some sort is a terrible plague. I do hope that Pope Francis' visit will change the hearts of many in this regard. Jesus' "choice of the child" should be our choice as well. AMEN
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