Saturday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time (August 18, 2018): Everything Under Control?

Thứ Sáu, 17-08-2018 | 15:33:23

Today’s Readings:

Ezekiel 18:1-10, 13, 30-32
Psalm 51:12-15, 18-19
Matthew 19:13-15
www.usccb.org/bible/readings/081818.cfm

USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/18_08_18.mp3

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.

Children were brought to Jesus
that he might lay his hands on them and pray.
The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said,
“Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them;
for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
After he placed his hands on them, he went away.

The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me…” (From Saturday’s Gospel reading)

Reflection for Saturday: Everything Under Control?

By Graciela Ramos, Director of Online Ministry

In this Saturday’s Gospel reading, we see the disciples scolding people who want Jesus to pray and bless their children. It is weird, since adults are always trying to get their children blessed by God. Why would the disciples shove out the people who came with children?

It is the misnamed “zeal for the ministry.” When we begin to work in the parish or in a ministry, everything seems new to us and we want to “soak up” everything around us. Slowly we gain confidence and, little by little, we “manage” the service and start to have “everything clear”. But what we do not have clear yet is that Jesus cannot be managed or controlled. Although it seems that we know him, even if we walk miles and miles with him, he will always be new, always disconcerting, always “the other”.

But, in our eagerness to control everything (motivated by our fears), we begin to decide what Jesus should do and what he should not do because it is not right for him to do it (according to our poor criteria). We decide which doors he should open and which ones he should close. We decide which people can enter a church ministry and which ones should “stay outside” purifying themselves of their sins. We tell God whom he should bless and whom he should turn away from his sight.

In these difficult times, we must learn to tune into the Holy Spirit. We must learn what the “sound of the Spirit’s voice” is like, to avoid falling into extremism. Discernment is a charism that we must persistently ask for, especially those of us who are pastors in some way: parents, teachers, priests, etc., because, if we remain blind to who truly God is, we could be leading the sheep to the abyss. And we may fall, too.

In order to know better who the Holy Spirit is and how he helps guide us towards the perfect plan that the Father has for us, you can see the different WordBytes we have about the Holy Spirit on our website, or take the online courses: How to Hear the Holy Spirit, Living in the Power of the Holy Spirit and How to Pray in the Power of the Holy Spirit.

Tags: Good News Reflection, Holy Gospel according to Matthew, Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time