“Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” – Matthew 19:14

       I saw this on Twitter: “Dear Math, can you kindly solve your own problem once in a while? I’ve lots of problems, too. And please stop looking for your X. And don’t ask me Y.”

       Any anti-Math person like me can relate with the above tweet. But I realize that I can never escape Math. Because life is a journey of balancing equations — of balancing work and life.

       Many people pour all their energies into their work at the expense of their family. Some pour everything into their family and neglect work. In the past, workaholics were perceived to be hardworking people to be emulated. Today, like any other “holic,” it’s considered as a form of addiction. And we know that all addictions are an escape from worthwhile priorities in life.

       We are called to a life of balance and harmony. Some call it work-life balance. I prefer to call it work-life harmony. And work-life harmony is simplicity!

       When Jesus calls the little children unto Him, we are also being called to a life of simplicity and harmony. Let us live in His harmonic simplicity and simplified harmony! Obet Cabrillas (kpreacherobet@gmail.com)

Reflection: How can you simplify your life so that your priorities are in place?

I come to You, Lord, weary and burdened; You will give me rest. (cf.Matthew 11:28)

St. Pontian, pope, and Hippolytus, priest, martyrs, pray for us.

If we obey the will of God and do what is right, then we will be blessed with eternal life. We have been given free will to determine our destiny. Let us use this gift well and choose the path that leads to righteousness, not the one that leads to death.

Ezekiel 18:1-10, 13, 30-32

1 The word of the Lord came to me: Son of man, 2 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”? 3 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. 4 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. 5 If a man is virtuous — if he does what is right and just, 6 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; 7 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; 8 if he does not lend at interest nor exact usury; if he holds off from evildoing, judges fairly between a man and his opponent; 9 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. 10 But if he begets a son who is a thief, a murderer, or 13 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. 30 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. 31 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? 32For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies, says the Lord God. Return and live!

Psalm 51:12-13, 14-15, 18-19

R: Create a clean heart in me, O God.

10 [12] A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me. 11 [13] Cast me not out from your presence, and your Holy Spirit take not from me. (R) 12 [14] Give me back the joy of your salvation, and a willing spirit sustain in me. 13 [15] I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners shall return to you. (R) 16 [18] For you are not pleased with sacrifices; should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it. 17 [19] My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn. (R)

Jesus encourages us to trust more. Children trust their parents implicitly. This is the same trust that we should have in God. Why is it that we do not want to trust? Maybe we want to be in control and not relinquish this even to God. Salvation will not come to one who is not ready to surrender his life to the Lord.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth; you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.

Matthew 19:13-15

13 Children were brought to Jesus that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them, 14 but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 15 After he placed his hands on them, he went away.

think: Jesus encourages us to trust more.

Thank You Lord for: __________________

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR  2 Maccabees 9-10  

THE HEART OF A CHILD

In today’s Gospel, Jesus rebuked the disciples for stopping the children from coming to Him. He says, “Let the children come to me and do not prevent them; for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Perhaps Jesus saw something special in the children’s disposition. They are pure, simple and obedient. They have a rich capacity to dream and believe.

         Dreams help us to move forward. In Seasons of Man’s Life, Daniel J. Levinson explores adult growth as a development of a dream. A dream is not about a nocturnal fantasy but a life project, an enduring and growing sense of what we are to do in life. To dream is what we want most to do in life. It is what we want to do “when we grow up.”

         Jesus was so sensitive to see that dream inside the very heart of a child. That dream is a very powerful energy that creates a beautiful life that is deeply connected to His divine plan for every person. Pope Francis says, “When we lose our capacity to dream, we lose our capacity to love.”

       But along the way, we may lose our dreams. They can wither or disappear. To have a heart like a child’s is to respond to God’s invitation to reconcile, even in a painful way, with our lost dream.

         Revisiting our dream purifies our expectations. How do we reconcile with the dream? We may be invited to come to terms with the way the dream has gone. “I have not become what I hope for.” Levinson called this de-illusionment; not disillusionment.

       Jesus’ invitation for us to have a heart like that of the child is to hold on to the larger vision of God for us. The total  dependence of a child teaches us the truth about our dreams — that they are not our own. Our life and our dreams are not our possessions. As they are purified, we recognize them as God’s dream in our lives. Fr. Alex Balatbat

REFLECTION QUESTION: What are your dreams or deepest hopes in your life?

Grant us the grace, O Lord, to have a heart like that of a child — filled with dreams and visions. Allow the child in us to be more enthusiastic in living out Your dreams for us. Purify our dreams so that we can truly celebrate our best hopes in life. Amen.