+ We actually have amazing readings for mass today… they
are all about being “right sized” “open-eyed” and “being humble to a fault” –
and the message in both readings is that “child sized” is the way to go! CHILD
SIZED in stature in relation to the entire universe, not only the world in
which we live, child sized in attitude: that is “open-eyed” wonder, awe and
amazement at what unfolds before it every brand new and adventurous day, child
sized in expectations, wants and needs: a child wants everything that his/her
Father wants to give it: and with our heavenly Father, as we think with our
earthly fathers: they sky is the limit: my Dad can do anything for me, and give
me anything because he loves me so very much.
Now whether this is a
realistic posture in all families in the world or not, for whatever reason:
there is an innate, infinite yearning and longing for these things. But, GOD
OUR FATHER CAN BE AND DO THOSE THINGS FOR US without any effort on his part and
without loss to himself in any way.
All he does is assign tasks to
the Holy Spirit by means of which we are connected to the Mystical Body of His
Son on earth, the Churches of Rome – not only the Roman brand, but the many
other “churches” in union with the Church of Rome, where the true Vicar of
Christ resides: the Roman Pontiff and Pope.
And so Jesus tells his
distracted and worldly minded disciples that the “greatest” if they really need
to know will be the lowliest, the humblest, the most trusting, open-eyed, and
wonderfilled among them – who knows they are absolutely nothing in the sight of
God – so that he can fill them with EVERYTHING THEY NEED to make their
childhood in him abundant, overflowing with riches and joy, about things that
really matter.
And so he says: ask rightly,
and you will get it: ask in the Holy Spirit, for things that will increase and grow
your spiritual childhood, into spiritual maturity, that will remain ever fresh,
ever wondering, ever childlike – no matter what your age.
And you will attract and
affect a whole new cadre of friends and strangers – people will intuitively and
automatically be sent your way: just for a playful nod, a laugh, a smile, a
word, time spent, however brief, and a sense of alienation, fear and loneliness
will disappear – if only for a short while. The trick is to pray to the Spirit
to send a steady supply of such “joy and gladness bearers” into our lives to
fill our days, so that we can rest in peace and happiness when we turn the
light out next to our beds at night!
The price of all this: what
Jesus, likewise says in the gospel passage: I will go to Jerusalem to be
maligned, maltreated, and murdered. But I willingly do that so that YOU can be restored
to friendship with God, but also established as his true, dear and beloved
adopted sons and daughters that can now last forever – if you but believe in
me, and live like you believe it, in a self-giving loving way all the days of
your life on earth!
Amen.
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