“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”
Daily Reflections
Saturday, 19th August 2017.
Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Saturday Memorial of Blessed Virgin Mary
Jos 24: 14-29;
Ps 15: 1-2, 5, 7-8, 11;
Mt 19:13-15
RECEIVING JESUS LIKE CHILDREN!
Today's brief gospel passage is on the one level about Jesus’ attitude to children, but is more importantly and on a deeper level about the kingdom. While in Mark and Luke the children were brought to Jesus that he might “touch” them (Mk 10:13; Lk 18:15), in Matthew the children are brought that he “might lay his hands on them and pray”. These two acts are the typical acts of blessing by a revered teacher and Matthew intends to show that Jesus is regarded as such by the people. Jesus goes further than the blessing to make a pronouncement about who will inherit the kingdom, and he identifies not just the children but also “such as these”. This means that anyone no matter of what age will inherit the kingdom if he/she receives it without presumption and self-justification.
Jesus offered a gentle rebuke to His disciples for trying to prevent the children from coming to Him. Jesus makes it clear that these children are truly precious to Him and that He wants them each to receive the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus laid His hands on the children and prayed for them. He bestowed a tremendous amount of grace on these little ones. We will not encounter Jesus coming to us physically in the same way, laying His hands on us and praying for us. But we have the Savior of the World coming to us in Holy Communion, entering into our souls and nourishing us in ways beyond what we can ever imagine. The power of His divine presence, coming to us in Holy Communion, is enough to transform our lives in powerful ways. The problem is that we often receive Him without being fully open to the infinite depths of His tender mercy. Through this daily encounter, we become like children, partakers of our heavenly Father’s Kingdom.
Reflect, upon the intimate touch of the Savior upon your soul as you receive Him in Holy Communion. Are you open to all that He wishes to bestow? Renew your openness to Him and seek to allow Him to enter your soul more deeply next time you come forward to receive His divine touch.
Prayer: Lord, I love You and desire to open my heart more fully in Holy Communion. May I open myself to all that You desire to pour forth upon me. Come into my heart, dear Lord, and transform my life by Your gentle touch. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.