Tuesday 21 May 2024

Today is Tuesday 21 May, in the 7th week of Ordinary Time. O Lord, my heart is not proud. As I enter into prayer now, can I put aside for a moment my pride, any sense of self-importance I may have, and place myself humbly into the hands of my God, who knows all my faults and failings and loves me still? O Lord, my heart is not proud, nor haughty my eyes. I have not gone after things too great, nor marvels beyond me. Truly I have set my soul in silence and peace; at rest, as a child in its mother’s arms, so is my soul. Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Mark. Mark 9:30-37 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, ‘The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.’ But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him. Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, ‘What were you arguing about on the way?’ But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, ‘Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.’ Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.’ More than once in his teaching, Jesus chooses a child as an example. As you hear Jesus speak of the little child, what do you hear him saying to you? Have you ever sensed that God was speaking to you through a child? What could a child teach you? As you listen to the reading again, focus on the way Jesus takes the child in his arms and speaks of welcome… How did you feel as you heard the passage that second time? Did you sense that Jesus saying was something to you? Maybe, through the example of this child, Jesus is drawing you into a more intimate relationship with him. Speak to Jesus now about your feelings as you listened to his words. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.