LEARNING FROM THE LITTLE ONES OF GOD
The
world tends to defer to the powerful and wise when seeking an answer to
a problem. In today’s Gospel, we are reminded that this may not always
be the best approach to any given problem. There are times when those we
least expect may not only have a better answer than the rich and
powerful, but are far better equipped to implement it as well.
Today, we celebrate the feast day of St. Francis Xavier, a man who
begins his life in the midst of one of the wealthy families of Europe,
who leaves it all behind and gives himself as a Jesuit, proclaiming the
Gospel in India, Japan and even China. He leaves the ways of the most
powerful to put his faith in a message of love that turns out to be even
more powerful.
The lives of all the saints remind us that God chooses whomever He
wills to do His work here on earth. God is not interested in the power
plays of the world and the way people seek influence and exercise it for their own
advantage. This is not the Gospel. God looks to people with hearts of
service — those who desire to do good for others and who are not really worried about what the world may think of them. This is quite a difficult path to walk, as there can be no reward in it for those
who take it in this life. The rewards of a life of faith are stored up in heaven.
However, the functioning of any community requires that there be people
willing to give of themselves to it without the certainty of material
reward. This is true even of parents who, in western societies, are so
often quickly forgotten. It is not always the case, and you will see it
in those societies where familial bonds are treasured, that care and
respect for elders is the norm and people do everything in their power
to express it. Let us always remember that it is relationships that
really matter — something that the little ones of God seem to always
remember. Fr. Steve Tynan,
MGL
REFLECTION
QUESTIONS: What priority do you place on the face-to-face relationships
in your life? Do you make it a priority to give special time and
attention to them?
Jesus, help me to realize the importance of spending time with the people I love.
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