Reflection for Saturday August 19, Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time: Matthew 19:13-15

Gospel: Matthew 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." After he placed his hands on them, he went away.

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Reflection:

In a faraway village lived two families with five children each. Family number one was a devout catholic, they always attend Holy Mass most especially during Sundays. The parents lead their children in reflecting the words of Jesus in the bible and they regularly pray the Holy Rosary. On the other hand, family number two is the complete opposite of family number one. 

Twenty years after, the children of family number one were all successful and respected in their respective communities. The children of family number two were again the opposite of the children of family number one.

Many parents today forget the primacy of God over everything that this world offers us. For example, many parents deem it important to go to malls with their children to bond. Other would go to a few days’ vacation to bond as well. Nothing is wrong with these activities for as long as God is not left out in the cold.

For example, before you go malling during Sundays why not go to church for Holy Mass first? Thus, you teach your children the primacy of God over anything in this world. Some parents would bring their children to Mass in the mall. Thus, as they grow up they will be more at home visiting the mall rather than the church.

Yet, we all know that as children grow up they would encounter their own share of problems. So, they might look for refuge in the mall and not in the church. They may look to find solace with their friends and not with Jesus.

When your family go to vacation why not visit the church first and pray as a family? If this would not be possible, why not pray as a family before leaving your house? And when you arrive to your destination pray as well and thank the Good Lord for the safe travel.

In the gospel, Jesus tells us, “Let the children come to me (Matthew 19:14)”. Why? For the simple reason that the Good Lord wants to ensure a Bright, Good and Godly future for your children. – Marino J. Dasmarinas