SATURDAY OF THE SEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Mk 10:13-16) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
- NHA CHUA CHA
- Mar 4
- 4 min read
“Whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” (Mc 10,15)
FIRST READING - Sirach 17:1-15
A reading from the Book of Sirach
God from the earth created man,
and in his own image he made him.
He makes man return to earth again,
and endows him with a strength of his own.
Limited days of life he gives him,
with power over all things else on earth.
He puts the fear of him in all flesh,
and gives him rule over beasts and birds.
He created for them counsel, and a tongue and eyes and ears,
and an inventive heart,
and filled them with the discipline of understanding.
He created in them knowledge of the spirit;
With wisdom he fills their heart;
good and evil he shows them.
He put the fear of himself upon their hearts,
and showed them his mighty works,
That they might glory in the wonder of his deeds
and praise his holy name.
He has set before them knowledge,
a law of life as their inheritance;
An everlasting covenant he has made with them,
his justice and his judgments he has revealed to them.
His majestic glory their eyes beheld,
his glorious voice their ears heard.
He says to them, "Avoid all evil";
each of them he gives precepts about his fellow men.
Their ways are ever known to him,
they cannot be hidden from his eyes.
Over every nation he places a ruler,
but God's own portion is Israel.
All their actions are clear as the sun to him,
his eyes are ever upon their ways.
GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Mark 10:13-16
From the Gospel according to Mark
People were bringing children to Jesus that he might touch them,
but the disciples rebuked them.
When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them,
"Let the children come to me; do not prevent them,
for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
Amen, I say to you,
whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child
will not enter it."
Then he embraced the children and blessed them,
placing his hands on them.
SATURDAY OF THE SEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Mk 10:13-16)
THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE
Dear People of God,
Today's Word of God teaches us that if we want to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, we must become like children.
Today’s Gospel says: "People were bringing children to Jesus that He might touch them." The "people" that the Gospel referred to here include the children’s relatives, which would be grandparents, parents, siblings, or those who care for young children.
They were the ones who had heard Jesus teach, witnessed His miracles, and followed Him. Whenever He appeared, they flocked there and brought their children and grandchildren along for convenient care. The number of children was not small, as in the Gospel of John, when Jesus performed the miracle of multiplying the loaves, He said: "Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children." (Mt 14:21).
We know that children are often restless, and wherever they are, there is usually noise and chaos. Sometimes this becomes too much for adults to bear, and they end up scolding and chasing them away. This is why we understand why the disciples forbade children from coming to Jesus. In contrast to the disciples' unpleasant attitude, Jesus warmly welcomed the children and taught them a very important lesson: "Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it."
Through this, Jesus teaches us three important lessons today:
First: Educating children in the faith is the responsibility of parents. We must guide them to the source of grace through the Sacraments, and religious practices such as family prayer, attending Mass, visiting the Blessed Sacrament, etc. It must be acknowledged that today many parents are indifferent to this duty. Therefore, in the community of the parish, there are many children who go astray due to our lack of responsibility.
Second: We must avoid the attitude of the disciples in preventing children from coming to the Lord. This is not the first time we see their negative attitude. Once, John forbade an exorcist who was not a disciple. Another time, the disciples showed an unpleasant attitude when they saw a Canaanite woman asking the Lord to heal her daughter: "Send her away, for she keeps calling out after us." God has the right to give grace and bless whom He pleases when His children come to Him; but personal selfishness has made us annoyed by the presence of our brothers and sisters, especially the simple children, the weak, and the vulnerable.
Jesus' mission on earth was to fulfill the will of God the Father: to preach the Gospel, heal the sick, and cast out demons to bring people closer to God the Father. To come close to Him, we must become like children: simple, surrendering, loving, and absolutely trusting like children trust their parents.
The disciples annoyed the Lord when they chased the children away from Him. He rebuked them again: '"Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these."'
Third: We adults can impart life knowledge to children, but in this Gospel, God teaches us a great lesson from the children, who become models for those who want to enter Heaven. Children are simple, not stubborn, forgetful, and forgiving, especially always knowing that they are weak and small, and relying on their Father.
That is why God loves children.
Therefore, those who do not have the heart of a child will find it difficult to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. All those on their way to Heaven can find their spiritual path in Saint Therese of the Child Jesus' spiritual childhood. The smaller, simpler, and humbler one is, the closer we are to God.
The Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like little children!
Thanks be to God. Amen.
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