Children

In today’s readings we have two different views of children.

In the Gospel (Matthew 19:13-15), our Lord welcomes children with these beautiful words:

Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them;
for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.

On the other hand, the first reading (Ezekiel 18:1-10, 13b, 30-32) speaks of begetting a son who is a thief and a murderer.

One difference between the two situations is that the children in the Gospel are young while the son in the first reading has presumably grown to adulthood.

We know, of course, from sad and tragic experience that this is not always the case: that one does not need to be an adult to be a murderer.

The most important difference between the two situations is that in the Gospel, the children are open and receptive to Christ while the son in the first reading is focused on selfishness and evil.

May you and I be children open to and focused on the truth and love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.