When Milt sat downtrodden at our kitchen table, our two-year son spotted this elderly widower and made a beeline to him. Led by the Spirit, this toddler gently placed his small-dimpled hand on the worn hands of our grief-stricken neighbor, and patted while saying, “It’s okay. It’s okay.” This smallest of gestures brightened a hurting heart far more than a million bucks.
Small. Bit. Little. Handful. Couple. Few. Bite-size adjectives pepper this Sunday’s scripture generating a big impact. Undoubtedly, the small cake and two small coins were valued over much larger gifts—as they were given in faith and love. As Mother Teresa famously said, “Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” Small things matter, and when given out of love, become grace for the world: a gentle pat becomes healing; a note of encouragement serves as strength; a plate of cookies offers comfort; a hot meal provides dignity. God takes what little we give to expand the kingdom of God. A friend recently brought my ninety-two year old father a rum cake. Small. Simple. Delicious. Later, my sister-in-law commented, “I think Barb spends her day thinking of little things to do for others.” I think that’s right. Barb, a modern day Therese of Lisieux—saint of the “little way”—generously pours out her heart in the smallest ways: a ten-dollar bill anonymously placed on a beat up dashboard; a care package silently tucked into a homeless man’s jacket; a plate of cookies unassumingly delivered to a suffering friend. Like St. Therese, Barb realizes, “The Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, or even at their difficulty, as at the love with which we do them.” When we give to others in love, we give to Jesus, who multiples our humble offerings. Children may doubt their ability to give while possessing only small fingers, bits of talent, little hands, handful of belongings, couple of things, and a few coins. Yet we name grace through our witness and by helping our children realize that when they give from their smallness—with huge hearts and much love—they are bringing God’s presence into the world. Small fingers painting colors our lives; a bit of singing lightens our day; little hands hug our hurts; handful of violets elicit our joy; couple of kisses warm our hearts; few coins buy us sweetness. Small children, especially tiny infants, heal hearts and bring joy through their sheer existence. Some are called to big things, but all are called to small things. Either way, as St. Therese of Lisieux professed, “It is love alone that gives worth to all things.” Through Christ’s infinite love, a small cup of water pours out new life, a bit of bread redeems the world, a drop of blood seals the new and eternal covenant, and a little oil strengthens us for the journey. Small things. Great love. Amazing grace. Now, that’s good news! Click herIn the excitement of Pope Francis’ visit to the United States, our daughter exclaimed to her three children, “Did you know there are 1.2 billion Catholics in the world?” Her son, Freddy, age 10, shot back, “Did you know I’m going to be watching the new Star Wars movie, The Force Awakens, in three months?” What? Huh? Apparently, he’s more excited about galaxies than sightings of the Pope.
This Sunday, we celebrate All Saints’ Day as we honor the multitudes from every nation, race, people, and tongue—throughout the two-thousand year history of Christianity—who have taken up Christ’s call to the great adventure of discipleship. We honor these saints who have displayed heroic virtue in their lives (see Catechism of the Catholic Church, #828). Yes, heroic virtue! No wonder Freddy can’t wait for The Force Awakens, as young boys often dream of being super heroes by slaying dragons and conquering galaxies—far, far away. Young people need to know they were made more—for the real adventure called sainthood! In the 16th century, when bedridden with war injuries, Ignatius of Loyola read a book on the lives of the saints and was spellbound by the adventure of following Christ wholeheartedly—no matter the consequences. He rose to the adventure and founded the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits (Pope Francis’ order). Ignatius of Loyola is but one in the litany of saints, which includes the heroic service of a Mother Teresa, the heroic sacrifice of a Maximillian Kolbe, or the heroic love of a Francis or Therese of Lisieux. We often equate heroic virtue with serving in a foreign mission or giving one’s life in martyrdom, but most Christians live out their sainthood—heroic virtue—in their very homes, workplace, or neighborhood: the parent who spends his or her life caring for a special needs child; the person who quits a job, takes a major pay cut, to be more fully aligned with his or her Christian values; the one who continuously serves neighbors through little acts of charity; the person who volunteers as a Big Brother or Big Sister, and the list goes on. As I was voicing my concern for our culture, which in many ways is contrary to our faith, a faith-filled young mother quietly reflected: “Well, perhaps our children will be given the opportunity to demonstrate heroic virtue.” Yes, they may, as the very first Christians, be called to give their very lives. Yet the truth remains, that every Christian, in every age, has been called to grand adventure of heroic virtue—of sainthood. Though Freddy is enthralled with Star Wars as a ten-year old, my prayer is he will be captivated by Christ’s love and the call to sainthood. Now is the time for the force of Christianity to awaken and usher in God’s love through heroic virtue. May the force of Christ’s love be with you! Happy and relaxed, Pope Francis went off script at the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia: “Once a child asked me – you know that kids ask difficult questions – he asked me ‘Father, what did God do before creating the world?’” Kids say the “darndest” things and ask the funniest questions, yet children’s inquiries often shoot directly to the heart of the matter.
With their questions, simple or complicated, children seek to understand the deeper realities of life. Just as Bartimaeus, the blind man in this Sunday’s Gospel, cried out, “Master, I want to see,” our children cry out, “Mother, father, I want to see.” I want to know, I want to understand: Who is God? Who created the world? Is there a Heaven? Who am I? Why am I here? How am I to live? They are seeking truth. They want to see! Children’s questions create a natural entry into conversation about the reality of God—of life. As we engage their challenging questions, we seize the opportunity of leading our children into the fullness of sight by naming grace—God’s presence. Naming grace requires faith—prayerful, deep and abiding—because faith grants us spiritual insight and opens the door of salvation. As Jesus told Bartimaeus, “your faith has saved you.” To cultivate this vision of faith, we search beyond the surface for spiritual reality. Awakened to the moment, sensitive to the Spirit, and filled with awe and wonder, the curtain parts as we glimpse the deeper meaning of reality. Author Ronald Rolheiser writes: “What faith does is give us a double vision: When we have the eyes of faith we see a certain divine glow shimmering within the ordinary, just as we see all that is ordinary against a horizon of the eternal.” With eyes opened by illuminating grace, parents catch glimpses of God’s presence. Opened eyes see God’s creative beauty in the stunningly streaked sunset or the hauntingly enchanting melody. Opened eyes see the Spirit’s movement in “random” acts of kindness, sudden moments of courage, and unexpected gestures of reconciliation. Opened eyes see God’s image in each human person, from the sweetest baby to hardest criminal. Opened eyes see eternal meaning and purpose in the grandest acts of sacrificial love or the smallest acts of service. We name grace each time we share with our children these spiritual insights from our own double vision. When parents resist children’s natural inquiries, skirt their deeper questions, or placate with saccharine answers, children eventually settle into the blindness of the world. But when we alert them to the greater truth, we equip them to see life in light of eternity—as Pope Francis said, to “live life on a higher plane.” Next time a child asks a crazy question like, “What did God do before creating the world?” Answer with truth: “God was busy thinking of you! God was excited for the ways you would bring Jesus’ love into the world! God was pleased to know you have been given eternal life!” Or if stumped, pray to the One who answers our prayers and brings sight to the blind: “Master, help me to see.” Now, that’s good news! One of our sons came home shortly before college graduation because he needed to talk. Seated on the edge of the sofa, hands clasped on his lap, he nervously began: “I’ve decided to take a different career path. I know it will take a few more years of education and I’ll need to live at home, but I think it’s right.” We listened patiently and responded quietly: “We just want you to be happy.” What parent doesn’t want his or her child to be happy?
In this Sunday’s Gospel, the young rich man “went away sad.” Sad. He was apparently a fine, even outstanding, young man who kept all the commandments. Jesus offered him the fullness of life, yet money and possessions held his heart hostage. Instead of receiving happiness, he walked away sad. Culture appeals to our appetites and ego: richest food, latest fashion, and newest technology. If we buy into this false version of happiness, our children may experience moments of pleasure and times of comfort, but not happiness. As they search endlessly, they will walk through life bloated, dissatisfied, and distracted. They walk away sad. Young people hunger and thirst for true happiness. They know, deep in their hearts, they were made for more. They yearn to give their lives over to a greater purpose. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI spoke truth to our young people: “The world offers you comfort. But you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness.” Our greatness, our ultimate happiness, results from our dependence on Jesus and His way of self-sacrificial love—of self-gift. We discover happiness when we forget self and generously give ourselves away. The Baltimore Catechism describes succinctly the path to happiness—now and forever—as knowing, loving, and serving God. We name grace when our children witness us following Christ—not money and self-satisfaction. We name grace when we put our faith, our children, and our care for others—especially the poor—before lesser goods. We name grace when we speak truth: God created us for a greater purpose. Of course, we all experience moments of sadness and times of suffering. But the closer we remain to Christ and His way of self-gift, the happier and holier we will be. Helen Keller wrote: “True happiness … is not attained through self-gratification, but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.” Jesus, and His way of Love, is the Worthy Purpose—and the way to eternal life. Will our son be happy in his new career? It depends less upon his career choice than his motivation. If he chooses to follow Christ by serving the kingdom of Almighty God, he will discover happiness. If he chooses to feed his ego and chase the almighty dollar, he will walk away sad. But whatever he chooses, Jesus loves him unconditionally and will never, ever, walk away. Now, that’s good news! Nearly twenty years ago, Dr. Mary Pipher, author of The Shelter of Each Other: Rebuilding Our Families, prophetically wrote of society’s dangerous influences on the family. She could well have been meditating on this week’s Scriptures. She begins by referencing to prairie days when families built homes to protect beloved members from vicious animals, destructive storms, and the occasional robber. Pipher then makes the point that today’s world is more treacherous because the enemy is stealthily breaking and entering into our homes. Suddenly, the world of rattlesnakes, tornadoes, and Jesse James sound like the good old days.
In times past, the community, commerce, and institutions often worked to help protect children and to raise law-abiding citizens. Many aspects of today’s society, however, seem bent on addicting our children—from the earliest age—to “luxury and pleasure” (Jas 5:5): consumerism, gambling, pornography, drugs, and constant busyness. Pressure to be beautiful enough, smart enough, talented enough, rich enough—“good enough” to fit in—seeps into our homes through the television and the Internet. Today’s Gospel warns against anyone who would cause children to sin for “it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea” (Mk 9: 47). Stern words for those who seek to enslave our children. We immediately point to the natural suspects: drug dealers, human traffickers, and cunning advertisers. Temptation, though, usually presents itself through an accidental click, a slick ad, or a seductive invitation. Evil, more terrifying than any rattlesnake, slithers silently into our homes while we, and our children, privately click sites and surf channels. As important as monitoring the media and refusing to say “yes” to our children’s every whim, we are wise to stay close as a family and to arm our children with the Good News of Jesus Christ. We fortify our children against the venom of poisonous lies when we enlighten them with the truth of who they are in Christ. As parents/grandparents, we name grace by reminding our children, over and over, God has created them, God loves them, and God has a plan and purpose for them. When children know—to their core—God loves them infinitely and unconditionally, no amount of forked tongue can tempt them to seek “wealth that will rot” (Jas 5:2) and engage in activity that will “devour the flesh” (Jas 5:3). Dr. Pipher prophesied the enemy facing today’s families. And as terrifying as it may be, parents are not alone against this adversary who would cause their children to sin. The spirit of the Lord is with parents who seek God’s strength, guidance, and wisdom in teaching their children the precepts of the Lord. The spirit of the Lord rests upon parents who bring their children to Jesus—the One who loves them far more than we can even imagine. God has entrusted us with the great gift of children—and God will not abandon us in the care of their souls. Now, that’s good news! |
ReflectionsThe blog on this page presents reflections on the Sunday readings through the lens of a parent/grandparent, aiding leaders of the domestic church in their vital task as “first heralds” or “first preachers” of the Good News in the home. Archives
December 2021
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