Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it. We all were children once and have the experience of childhood. Children are open to learning, correction, obedience, trusting and speak truthfully, without shades of meaning and don’t worry about what people will think about them. Children look at the world with wonder and amazement. Children do not have status. While the world promotes status, influence, wealth and power, Jesus in today’s gospel tells us that the kingdom of God is for those who have not enslaved themselves to the things of the world. We use the things of the world to help those whose rights and dignity are disregarded by society – such as the poor, the hungry, the homeless etc.
We must approach the practice of our faith, especially the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, with wonder and amazement. The trust of a child is simple, does not question and never doubts. This is the same trust we are called to have in prayer. We know that God’s love for us in infinite. God takes care of all that we truly need. We know that Jesus’s mercy is unlimited – we place our trust in Him, as we approach with a repentant heart.
This is the same trust that we are called to have in our relationship with Jesus Christ. We depend on God for all that we are and all that we have.
This is the same trust that we are called to have if we are living the marriage vocation. This is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one flesh. Today’s first reading from the Book of Genesis provides us with a vision of God’s plan for marriage between a man and a woman. The vows exchanged by a man and a woman on their wedding day are not possible to fulfill with human strength alone. Jesus Christ must be an integral part of every marriage. Jesus gives the strength to be faithful to the vows exchanged. May the blessing of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit descend upon all married couples and remain with them always!
Deacon Mike