Word to the Wise
Saturday, August 16, 2025 - Saturday in the 19th Week in Ordinary Time
[Josh 24:14-29 and Matt 19:13-15]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." [Matthew]
One of the consistent and neuralgic issues of parish liturgical life is the complaint I hear from parishioners about crying or active children during Mass. New churches seem to require "cry rooms" in their designs! I admit that it is difficult to preach when there is high pitched howling going on, but "it goes with the territory!" I can't help but think about this issue when Jesus overrules the disciples about keeping children away from him. The disciples are overruled on more than one occasion for keeping people away because the disciples wanted Jesus for themselves and didn't like interruptions or disturbances.
Child-like (not child-ish) openness to "the Kingdom of heaven" is commended by Jesus as an example for disciples. Perhaps the existence of "family Masses" and "cry rooms" is an effort to accommodate irritated parishioners. But the challenge that Jesus gives to us remains. Any exclusion from reaching him has to meet a stringent standard of scrutiny! AMEN