Sept. 23, 2012: 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time B
Most of us have something inspiring taped on our refrigerator doors. Here is something inspiring that you may want to clip and put on the refrigerator:
TAKE TIME TO PRAY
TAKE TIME TO LAUGH. IT IS THE SOURCE OF POWER. IT IS THE GREATEST POWER ON EARTH. IT IS THE MUSIC OF THE SOUL.
TAKE TIME TO PLAY.
TAKE TIME TO LOVE AND BE LOVED.
TAKE TIME TO GIVE. IT IS THE SECRET OF PERPETUAL YOUTH. IT IS GOD’S GIVEN PRIVILEGE. IT IS TOO SHORT A DAY TO BE SELFISH.
TAKE TIME TO BE FRIENDLY.
TAKE TIME TO DO CHARITY. IT IS THE KEY TO HEAVEN.
It’s a beautiful saying, isn’t it? But this little saying hangs not on a refrigerator door but on the wall of a children’s home in Calcutta operated by the Missionaries of Charity. In this orphanage, sisters and volunteers take care of children who have been abandoned by their parents for various reasons. For the young college-age volunteers from Australia, U.S., and Europe, the sign on the wall reminds them that the children in the orphanage are going to teach them a lesson that will change their lives; lessons from simply playing, laughing, loving, and self-giving. These children do not have fancy iPods, Lego blocks, expensive dolls, yet they are happy. Despite having nothing, the children are happy because they are loved.
Children, with their innocence, creativity, and hopefulness often teach adults lessons about life. Our young people who went door to door in Laplace also taught the folks in that community something. We received a few thank you cards from them. One read: “Thank you so much for following the heart of Jesus and giving us the gift cards. They will be very useful in replacing our much-valued household items. Please continue to pray for us and others as we begin to rebuild together.” Another card read: “My husband, my mother-in-law, and I want to thank you for the gift cards. You don’t know how much that meant and helped. I just lost my job and have been recently sick.” These inspiring cards will go on my refrigerator door.
In today’s gospel, Jesus takes a child from the crowd to teach his disciples a lesson. While on the journey, the disciples were discussing about who was the greatest. They were preoccupied with jealous competition for privilege and prestige. How we are so much like the disciples! We mirror their human tendencies to seek glory when in competition with others. Jesus placed the child it in their midst, and putting his arms around it, he said to them, "Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me." What did Jesus mean by this? I often notice that when we adults see a cute child, we bend down and become engrossed in what the child needs. Just as we forget about ourselves to see to the needs of the child, likewise we need to do this for others as well. St. Paul puts it this way: “Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves.” Mother Teresa explains it in another way: “Try to give unconditionally whatever a person needs in the moment. The point is to do something, however small, and show you care through your actions by giving your time. We are all God’s children so it is important to share His gifts. Do not worry about why problems exist in the world—just respond to people’s needs. I just do what I can do: the rest is not my business.”
Jesus reminds us that a child will teach us how to live our lives: not in competition with one another, comparing ourselves to another, but forgetting ourselves and loving another. We must remember to take time to give: IT IS GOD’S GIVEN PRIVILEGE. IT IS TOO SHORT A DAY TO BE SELFISH.
TAKE TIME TO LAUGH. IT IS THE SOURCE OF POWER. IT IS THE GREATEST POWER ON EARTH. IT IS THE MUSIC OF THE SOUL.
TAKE TIME TO PLAY.
TAKE TIME TO LOVE AND BE LOVED.
TAKE TIME TO GIVE. IT IS THE SECRET OF PERPETUAL YOUTH. IT IS GOD’S GIVEN PRIVILEGE. IT IS TOO SHORT A DAY TO BE SELFISH.
TAKE TIME TO BE FRIENDLY.
TAKE TIME TO DO CHARITY. IT IS THE KEY TO HEAVEN.
It’s a beautiful saying, isn’t it? But this little saying hangs not on a refrigerator door but on the wall of a children’s home in Calcutta operated by the Missionaries of Charity. In this orphanage, sisters and volunteers take care of children who have been abandoned by their parents for various reasons. For the young college-age volunteers from Australia, U.S., and Europe, the sign on the wall reminds them that the children in the orphanage are going to teach them a lesson that will change their lives; lessons from simply playing, laughing, loving, and self-giving. These children do not have fancy iPods, Lego blocks, expensive dolls, yet they are happy. Despite having nothing, the children are happy because they are loved.
