In today’s Gospel, when Jesus took the little child in his arms, he was showing the disciples the least powerful ones in their society at that time.  Men ruled, women were subservient and children had no rights.  Yet Jesus said, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receive me.”  I wonder what it is about children that so attracted Jesus.  Jesus had no children of his own and he was not sentimental.   So, children must be little persons of great value to command his respect.

Late Karl Rahner, a great theologian of modern times has this to say about children.  “In the child, an adult begins who must undergo the wonderful adventure of becoming a child of God, for this is the task of maturity.”  Rahner never has one idea when two will do, but what I think he is describing is the dual nature of children that they are at the same time children in their own right and also adults in the making.

Most of us, most of the time, think of them in the second way.  Just as we think of minnows as little fish, and buds as baby flowers, we think of children as little adults.  Otherwise, why would we dress them that way, and make them walk and talk before they are ready and push them into organized sports before they have mastered hop scotch?   But even as we rush them toward old age and all the things we hold dear, our instincts tell us that they are basically children, and that a child is reason enough to be by itself, with no other purpose.  So, what are some particular rights and beauties of childhood which come from God and appeal to God’s Son?

Spontaneity, for starters.  That open-faced look at life that hasn’t yet learned to compare and categorize, to coerce and distort everything to its own image, that has no private design on creation but lets it be just as it came to us fresh from God’s own hands.  Dependency is childlike.  That open-handed approach to life that realizes without thinking that it has no power, no status, no claim, no ability that it could not even survive unless someone else freely chose to cherish it and befriend it.  And strangely to us, the child accepts all this charity without guile or guilt.  The child smilingly takes everything it can get without embarrassment, often without gratitude.  The child seems to sense some mystery that we cannot fathom, as if this is the way things are supposed to be.  And maybe it is!

Surprise is another childhood gift, that wide-eyed stare at life that has no predetermined expectations, and so is not surprised by anything.  Children never wonder why birds fly, because why shouldn’t they?  But children are curious as to how high and far birds fly?   And children are creative wanting to make other things fly.  Children fly kites, adults fly planes and when we have filled the skies with mechanical birds, and are weary of childish questions, and sick unto death with life, behold, every child that is born brings the message that God has not despaired of adults.

I bet Jesus loved children because they reminded him of his own childhood.  He remembered that he was nothing more than a fresh and radiant possibility in the middle of the universe.  He was a new pair of eyes, and hands and feet to see and touch and walk the earth.  He was a brand new someone to drink in all of creation and spit it out in his own words.  He remembered when he believed that life was good and people were good.   And no amount of failure and rejection or pain would ever change his childish beliefs.  His Father loves children because they are his own.  God gives each one their own name, invites each one to a personal friendship and helps each one write their own story.   Thank about it!

Catechism of the Catholic Church

409. Where can one find the most complete realization of the common good?

The most complete realization of the common good is found in those political communities which defend and promote the good of their citizens and of intermediate groups without forgetting the universal good of the entire human family.

Further reading: CCC 1901-1912, 1927


410. How does one participate in bringing about the common good?

All men and women according to the place and role that they occupy participate in promoting the common good by respecting just laws and taking charge of the areas for which they have personal responsibility such as the care of their own family and the commitment to their own work. Citizens also should take an active part in public life as far as possible.
     
Further reading: CCC 1913-1917, 1926 

Love Can Make The “Unwanted Child” Wanted! 

....We can’t stop all evil in this fallen world, but we can fight it in our own neck of the woods with love. Love never ends. Love can save lives. Love declares that there is no such thing as an unwanted child....With love, children are adopted, not aborted. With love, children are cherished, not abused. With love, there is less room for the oppressor because his hunting grounds are smaller....We simply need to see no child as unwanted.... And it can start with just one. One life loved can make all the difference. After all, one life changed the entire world." 

Alveda King, niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. King. 

Men of the parish, please save the date for September 25th and plan to attend the Annual Men's Conference to be held at the New Britain Stadium.  Please visit www.ctcatholicmen.org or click here to see the flyer for more details.  

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All those celebrating 25th, 30th, 35th, 40th, 45th, or 50+ anniversary are invited to gather at St. Matthew’s parish on Saturday, September 25, 2021, at either 10:30 am or 1:00 pm for a Mass celebrated by Bishop Caggiano. Space is limited to four guests.  To register, please email the first name of both bride and groom, your email, and your wedding date to weddingjubilee@diobpt.org or call Barbara at 203-416-1641.

St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Parish's 29th Annual Fall Festival will be held on Saturday, November 6th, 9 am-4 pm. Vendor Applications are now available at stmarguerite.org under “Breaking News”. Questions? Email fallfestival@stmarguerite.org or call 203-775-5117, x215. St. Marguerite Bourgeoys Parish is located at 138 Candlewood Lake Road in Brookfield.

We wish to thank all of our parishioners who have been mailing in or dropping off their donations, and those who have signed up for Online Giving.  We appreciate your generosity and desire to continue to support the parish.  

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