Word to the Wise
Saturday, August 13, 2022 - Saturday in the 19th Week in Ordinary Time
[Ezek 18:1-10, 13b, 30-32 and Matt 19:13-15]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. [Ezekiel] 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. [Matthew]
In Ezekiel's time and later, it was believed that misfortunes that befell someone were divine punishment for sins their ancestors (including their parents) had committed. Ezekiel rejects the idea that God is punishing children because of their ancestors' sins. Each person must take responsibility for their own conduct. But this change in perspective did not improve the situation for children in those days or in Jesus' own time. Children were a blessing but they were considered property until they reached a certain age. Female children were considered of value only for the dowry they might bring! Jesus, in today's gospel, rebukes the disciples who tried to keep kids away from him. He points to them as an example of the humility expected of a disciple.
Child abuse is a terrifying social ill in our country (and elsewhere). That abuse ranges from abortion to psychological and physical behavior. The state-runned homes for abused children have themselves been shown - at least in Texas - to be less than protective!!! More subtle forms of abuse exist in parents' attempting to "relive their lives" through their children. I have encountered this in my campus ministry experience. The sad fact is that abusive parents are usually the offspring of abusive parents, which means the abuse is continued through generations!! Ezekiel and Jesus make it clear that this kind of abuse is not a form of divine punishment, but we have a long way to go in dealing with the problem. AMEN