Christ’s tender love for children is reflected in the Church’s care of her children.
OUR SAVIOR was conversing with His Apostles at a house in which He was a guest, when a group of mothers and children approached. The mothers may have heard that Jesus was about to leave the neighborhood, and they were anxious to have Him bless and pray over their children before He left. It was a pious custom for mothers to seek this favor from the hands of rabbis and doctors whom they revered; in seeking the blessing from Jesus they were showing high regard for His holiness, goodness, and power.
The Apostles rebuffed the group as troublesome intruders. They may have objected to having their own conversation with Jesus interrupted, or they may have objected to anything that would further tire our Lord.
When Jesus saw what was happening He was displeased with the Apostles. Gathering the children around, He told His followers that God’s kingdom is for those who are like children, that is, for those who are innocent, humble, obedient, and simple; that, in fact, those who do not receive the kingdom of heaven as little children will not enter it.
Today we are the children of the Church. As Christ gathered the children around Him to bless them, the Church, our Mother, gathers us, her children , to bestow her heavenly favors upon us. In Baptism, First Communion, and the administration of the other Sacraments, the Church is forming in us that childlike innocence and simplicity that prepares us for the heavenly kingdom.
Information from The Life of Christ “Our Lord’s Life with Lesson in His Own Words for Our Life Today edited by Reverend John P. O’Connell, MASTD and Jex Martin, MA following mainly A Chronological Harmony of the Gospels by Stephen J Hartdegen OFM NIHIL OBSTAT John A McMahon; IMPRIMATUR Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago.
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