From the responsorial psalm: “As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him, For he knows how we are formed; he remembers that we are dust. The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (10:13-16, today’s readings)
“Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.”
In the first reading, we hear Sirach say that God says to his people, “Avoid all evil.” He created us to live in wisdom and understanding through his covenant with his chosen people, Israel. Similarly, Jesus tells us in the Gospel to welcome in the kingdom of God as he receives the children who come to him. As the children come to Jesus, he embraces and blesses them. Through wisdom, we choose freely to be God’s children and receive his gift. Mary, full of grace, lived by saying yes to everything God asked of her. In her Magnificat, she proclaims, “the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.” As Saint John Paul II said of Mary accepting God’s gift within herself: “This Wisdom is Jesus Christ himself, the Eternal Word of God, who perfectly reveals and accomplishes the will of the Father.” Mary invites everyone to accept this gift of Wisdom.”
Father in heaven, make clear to me as you would make clear to a child what your will is for me today. If I miss what you make clear, again let me see what I didn’t see the first time. The psalmist contemplates the shortness of life. “Man’s days are like those of grass.” Yet, “the kindness of the LORD is from eternity.” I will make many decisions today, small ones and big ones. Give me the grace, Lord, to use your gift of wisdom and choose what is pleasing to you; even more, strengthen my desire that you might embrace and bless me. Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us!
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.