“Whoever receives this child in my name receives me.”
(09-20-2009)
It is all too easy to miss the teaching point of Jesus in Mark’s Gospel for this Sunday: The apostle’s wanted others to think they were “somebody.” Jesus presented them with one who in that culture was a “nobody.” The disciples wanted to be heard – but a child was supposed to keep quiet. The child’s opinion counted for nothing. The disciples wanted to assert their own worth and dignity – but a child in that culture had no “rights.” Children were not “their own person” —they belonged to their father. In Jesus’ time, they had no romantic notions about a child being “innocent.” Rather they believed a child needed regular correction, discipline and hard work to add income to the family— they certainly were not required to be educated. During the time of the disciples 60% of children died by the age of 16.
When Jesus said, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me,” he was once again identifying himself with the bottom rung of society—and telling his disciples (as well as us) to do the same.
To do for the child is to do for Jesus. Children are not empowered or able to care for themselves. They need assistance, nurturing guidance, discipline, and loving acceptance.
That is part of the reason Jesus placed the child in their midst. That child depends on us, but the time and resources we devote to the child is far and away our best investment. Jesus says, "Whoever welcomes a little child like this welcomes me."
This weekend we celebrate many who welcome children in the name of Jesus and do great good for the entire family and our parish. It is Catechetical Sunday, a time when we honor, bless, and rightfully proclaim the good that our teachers, religious education coordinators, and many volunteer catechists who help form not only children, but also adults in learning who God is and who Jesus is through the Word of God.
About Catechetical Sunday
“The ministry of the word is a fundamental element of evangelization through all its stages because it involves the proclamation of Jesus Christ, the eternal Word of God… The word of God nourishes both evangelizers and those who are being evangelized so that each one may continue to grow in his or her Christian life.” (National Directory for Catechesis [NDC] [Washington, DC: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2005], no. 17)
We are blessed to have many catechists in our parish. Our blessings also include the 200 children in our school that are being formed in faith through the gift of our teachers who sacrifice financial rewards because of their commitment to Christ. We owe them a great deal for their continued dedication to Catholic education and in their witness of Christ-centered values for the children entrusted to them and for the families that bring their children to our school.
We are greatly blessed to have more than 600 children in our CCD programs in English and Spanish, three nights a week. Our program includes our coordinators and numerous volunteers that work many hours. Many have full time jobs, many have families and children of their own to raise, yet they spend the summer in preparation, attending workshops and training sessions, and come week after week to share the Word of God and lead our children on a faith journey in Christ. We have the wonderful volunteers that help share with our children the Word of God in the Children’s Liturgy of the Word service at our 10:00 Sunday Mass, and our gratitude is extended to Tony Carlin who helps form our children in appreciation of the gift of music.
We are also blessed to have volunteers who help in our Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults as they donate time and share their faith to help those seeking a deeper understanding of God and of the Catholic faith. We have volunteers that help in our Confirmation program for teens and volunteers that help with Adult Confirmation and returning Catholics, for marriage preparation classes, baptisms, and Quinceañeras. Our leadership team for Youth Ministry in English and Spanish also help many find their journey to Christ in word, deed and fun.
You and I should continue to pray daily for these wonderful catechists/volunteers and coordinators that are a blessing to all of us as they share the light of Christ in their mission of formation of children and adults.
While we honor them, we want to be careful not to say, “Look how many already help. I don't need to get involved." Serving the Word of God is the work for all of us. Our children, teens, and adults need people to help not only with teaching, but with hospitality, material preparation, aides, and other aspects of our many programs.
I invite all of you to think about what it means to receive the little child. What will bring joy is opening our hearts and sharing who Jesus is in our lives, regardless of our age, and perhaps especially with the newcomer to our church, couples needing marriage prep, teens needing guidance and hope, and the little child needing to know they are loved by God and us. "Whoever welcomes a child welcomes me.”
Let us share in our welcoming love for Christ and one another, Fr. Gordon
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