Gospel for February 25, 2014, Tuesday

“Whoever welcomes a child such as this in my name, welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me, welcomes not me, but the One who sent me.” Over a week ago, I have started a new hobby, which is sending parenting tips in a text messages to my little prayer group. I realized that if there is one thing we can do best as God’s servants, it is making sure our children grow up in a Christian way. Because what is the use of serving others, what is the use of being a blessing to others, what is the use of being there for others, when in our own children we cannot even create a harmonious relationship? We cannot even love them, accept them, be there for them in ways that we do with others. Are we very patient with our own children as much as we are with our friends? Are we very tactful and kind with our children as much as we are for others? Do we spend time bonding with our children, getting to know them as much as we bond with our friends and getting to know more friends? The gospel for today reminds me of how much God is so fond with children, and I think the reason is quite obvious. These children are precious. These children are angels. These children do not lie, do not think ill of others, do not have malice towards others. These children are pure and as parents, as adults, it is our responsibility to make sure that they grow up to just as pure and precious. The world needs more faithfuls like that. Betrayals, lies, murder, selfishness. All this. Survival of the fittest is what has become of life these days. We need to raise faithfuls that will serve the Lord and not themselves.

7th Week in Ordinary Time
Psalter: Week 3

Ps 55:7-8-9-10a, 10b-11a, 23
Throw your cares on the Lord, and he will support you.

1st Reading: Jas 4:1–10
What causes these fights and quarrels among you? Is it not your cravings, that make war within your own selves? When you long for something you cannot have, you kill for it, and when you do not get what you desire, you squabble and fight. The fact is, you do not have what you want, because you do not pray for it. You pray for something, and you do not get it, because you pray with the wrong motive, of indulging your pleasures. You adulterers! Don’t you know, that making friends with the world makes you enemies of God? Therefore, whoever chooses to be the world’s friend becomes God’s enemy.
Can you not see the point of the saying in Scripture: “The longing of the spirit, he sent to dwell in us, is a jealous longing?” But God has something better to give, and Scripture also says, God opposes the proud but he gives his favor to the humble. Give in, then, to God; resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw close to God and he will come close to you. Clean your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you doubters. Recognize your distress, be miserable and weep. Turn your laughter into tears and your joy into sadness. Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will raise you up.

Gospel: Mk 9:30–37
After leaving that place, they made their way through Galilee; but Jesus did not want people to know where he was because he was teaching his disciples. And he told them, “The Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, but three days after he has been killed, he will rise.” The disciples, however, did not understand these words and they were afraid to ask him what he meant.
They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, Jesus asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” But they did not answer, because they had been arguing about who was the greatest.
Then he sat down, called the Twelve and said to them, “If someone wants to be first, let him be last of all and servant of all.” Then he took a little child, placed him in their midst, and putting his arms around him he said to them, “Whoever welcomes a child such as this in my name, welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me, welcomes not me, but the One who sent me.”