YEAR B: HOMILY FOR SATURDAY OF THE 19TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (1)

YEAR B: HOMILY FOR SATURDAY OF THE 19TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

HOMILY THEME: THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN BELONGS TO THE CHILDLIKE

BY: Fr. Benny Tuazon

HOMILY:

(Mt. 19:13-15) Saturday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time

In today’s Gospel Jesus blessed the children in spite of the rebuke they got from the disciples. Most probably, the disciples were worried about the attitudes of the children which might bother the Lord. But Jesus took the opportunity to teach them about children and the Kingdom.

Specifically, Jesus told them that the Kingdom belongs to those who are like children. Obedience, humility, dependence, honesty, and respect are just some of the great characteristics of children who are worthy of the Kingdom. Even as adults, we must never lose them. In fact, they should be more pronounced in the life of the adult Christian. God wants us to have those characteristics in our relationship with Him and our neighbors.

It is unfortunate that we tend to lose them when we grow older. We become defiant, proud, dishonest, individualistic, and arrogant. Our intelligence, riches, power, and fame had gotten in our heads that we believe we can live without God. The present generation is a victim of this. Relativism is embraced more. Reason has become a god. Fashion and looks rank high in the hierarchy of needs. The world is worldly. Secularism rules. Wrong had been limited to a certain few. Understanding over being right. The balance had tipped to the other side. The next generation is already compromized.

Fresh from the news mill is Grade Eleven student who had been killed allegedly due to drugs. His parents, neighbors, and witnesses say he was not into drugs. He was allegedly "salvaged" or "nanlaban." Circumstances surrounding his "killing" and a replay of the cctv recording revealed otherwise. Children are caught in the crossfire. A shuddering fear engulfed many. By destroying our youth, we destroy the future. This is sad. But God will not remain silent. The Kingdom belongs to the children. Jesus made a frightening caution to those who will hurt and abuse the children:

“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” (Mt:18:6)