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. (Mt 19:13-15)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081322.cfm
Jesus and the children is an image we all can relate too, especially parents with crying babies. The disciples were saying, “No crying babies near Jesus!” Jesus, on the other hand, just scooped the children up in his arms and then reminded his disciples about the priorities of the Kingdom. Today’s picture is of Pope Francis who baptized 33 babies in the Sistine Chapel. He told the mothers that if their baby cried that it was okay to go ahead and breastfeed them. Some cardinals were not amused.
These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
Saturday of the Blessed Virgin Mary, August 13
