PROTECT THE CHILDREN

 

PROTECT THE CHILDREN

Jesus elevates the child as a model for us. He refers to the good qualities of children, like obedience, humility, dependence, and simplicity. These are the attitudes we need as we relate to God. Next, Jesus instructed His listeners not to despise children. They may lack experience and age, but they enjoy God’s protection. He also stressed that each of them is precious to Him, like a sheep gone astray. The good shepherd will leave the others and search for the lost one.

Jesus gives us a very relevant message, especially to those who claim they love humanity but promote anti-family actions like contraception and abortion. It’s hard to reconcile their zealous fight against violators of children yet allow the killing of babies in their mother’s womb. They are more worried about the kind of life those children will have than fight for their right to life. They try to ease their conscience by reducing it to a legal issue. It is the law that will determine at what point of the pregnancy can abortion still be permitted. They try to change the truth by legal means, but truth can only be changed by another truth.

“I believe the children are our future,” so the song goes. We can only be assured there’s going to be a next generation if children are born. Family planning, so as to manage population, is recommended and acceptable. But radically depopulating is dangerous. Its effect on demography is not easily reversible. In fact, the government need not pass any law or encourage it. The present generation is already deep into it and voluntarily practicing contraception. Couples nowadays usually have only one child; others have two, but rarely do they have three or more. Our population rate has declined considerably. Even if our population is increasing, our country will soon experience the great decline. Hopefully, we have not reached the point of irreversibility.

For Jesus and us Catholics, it is not only an issue of economics, demography, and politics. It is a moral and spiritual concern. We take care of our children and the next generations, not only for this world but for the next life. Fr. Benny Tuazon

---------- REFLECTION QUESTION ----------

How do you relate to God—like a simple child or a proud adult?

Dearest Father, protect the unborn and the helpless from the wicked ways of adults. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ____________________________