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Today, 4th of December, we celebrate
Saint John Damascene
Ezekiel 18:1-10, 13b, 30-32
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.
If a man is virtuous—if he does what is right and just,
if he does not eat on the mountains,
nor raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel;
if he does not defile his neighbor's wife,
nor have relations with a woman in her menstrual period;
if he oppresses no one,
gives back the pledge received for a debt,
commits no robbery;
if he gives food to the hungry and clothes the naked;
if he does not lend at interest nor exact usury;
if he holds off from evildoing,
judges fairly between a man and his opponent;
if he lives by my statutes and is careful to observe my ordinances,
that man is virtuous—he shall surely live, says the Lord God.
But if he begets a son who is a thief, a murderer,
or lends at interest and exacts usury–
this son certainly shall not live.
Because he practiced all these abominations, he shall surely die;
his death shall be his own fault.
Therefore I will judge you, house of Israel,
each one according to his ways, says the Lord God.
Turn and be converted from all your crimes,
that they may be no cause of guilt for you.
Cast away from you all the crimes you have committed,
and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.
Why should you die, O house of Israel?
For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,
says the Lord God. Return and live!
Ps 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19
R./ Create a clean heart in me, O God.
A clean heart create for me, O God;
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R./ Create a clean heart in me, O God.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners shall return to you.
R./ Create a clean heart in me, O God.
For you are not pleased with sacrifices;
should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it.
My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit;
a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
R./ Create a clean heart in me, O God.
Matthew 19:13-15
Little children were brought to Jesus that he might lay his hands on them with a prayer. But the disciples scolded those who brought them. Jesus then said, "Let them be! Do not stop the children from coming to me, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to people such as these." So Jesus laid his hands on them and went his way.
For most human beings who are halfway sane in mind and heart, it’s natural to smile when we see a baby or a small child. A nephew of mine, whom I sometimes had to take for a walk or to the park, would get confused and perplexed if his smile, which he directed at anyone we met along the way, wasn’t returned. When he started talking, he would greet everyone, and if there was no response, he would insist, perhaps assuming they hadn’t heard him…
The scene of Jesus surrounded by children that the Gospels tell us about, when read now, is nice and familiar; it presents us with an adult reacting to them like one of those “halfway sane” human beings. We know well that Jesus Christ is much more: he is the most perfect son of man. The parents present their children to him, sensing that there is blessing and health in Him. And the disciples are wrong. They believe that the socially irrelevant, as minors were at that time and place, represent a hindrance and the Master should not waste time with them.
We have already seen recently, in another passage from Matthew’s account, that Jesus admonishes them and explains that the angels of those children are seeing the glory of God. One of those little ones acquires an unthinkable dignity, he is the owner of the kingdom of heaven. What’s more, we must become like one of them to enter the kingdom. To become a child is to be amazed at the wonder of life and to trust in the loving arms of the one who sustains and cares for us.
Some scripture scholars believe that all the Psalms refer to Jesus. He, who knew the Scriptures perfectly, would recite them frequently. This Gospel reading from today’s liturgy brings me to Psalm 131: Lord, my heart is not proud, / nor my eyes haughty; / I do not concern myself with great matters / or things too wonderful for me. / But I have calmed and quieted my soul, / like a weaned child with its mother; / like a weaned child is my soul within me. / O Israel, hope in the Lord / from this time forth and forevermore.
Virginia FernándezLord our God,
you love all that is little and humble.
As a child seeks refuge in the arms of its parents,
may our strength be to let you carry us.
Teach us through little children
not to boast of anything we have
or anything we have done
but to be open to and receptive of your grace.
For you are our greatness and richness
through Christ Jesus, our Lord.
It is true that we often suffer the consequences or enjoy the benefits of the deeds of others, good or bad, that there is a solidarity in sin. Yet, Ezekiel points out for us today, that each is personally responsible for the good or evil one does. And so, he calls the people out of their fatalistic attitude. As God's sons and daughters, we should renew ourselves and personally commit ourselves to all that is good.
Few people today take Jesus' words seriously when he says: "To such as these little children the kingdom of heaven belongs." Many, for example, discredit the spirituality of the little way of St Therese of Lisieux. We speak of adulthood in Christ, of a human and spiritual maturity. And yet, true adulthood consists in what God wanted us to be in Jesus Christ, in being receptive to the gospel. To the disciples, who have no use for children and who want to cut the gospel to the measure of their petty ideas, Jesus holds up the child not as a sign of innocence but as a model of openness to God and to the good news of his Son. It is the entrance ticket to the kingdom.
- That all of us may love and respect children and all that is little and brittle, we pray:
- That those who have promised fidelity in marriage may remain faithful to each other, we pray:
- That out of gratitude for all God has given us we may be faithful in our love for him and for people, we pray:
God, our Father,
we remember that when you appeared among us,
you came in your Son as a little child
dependent on people.
May we accept you with a child's heart,
trusting in you and your love,
admiring you for all the great things
you do among us
and loving you in return
with the spontaneous, uncomplicated love of children.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.
Lord our God,
we thank you for letting Jesus come among us
in the simplicity of a family meal.
This is an occasion for us to pray
for our children and their parents.
Dispose parents to let their children
feel and taste in their care and love
that you, God, care and love
all that is fragile and little.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Let us stand before God in all humility, aware of how much we owe him. And ask God to bless you, and especially your children: the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
