Homily: September 22, 2024 , Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Welcome child )

 “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.”

Who wouldn’t receive a child with open arms? Very often, it’s easier to welcome a child than an adult, don’t you think so?

Children here are considered precious and are treasured. They receive much love, attention and care. Families and society make a lot of effort, including implementing laws, to protect them and safeguard their rights. Their needs and all aspects of their well-being are important. And of course, because they are so loved, that they are also lovable. I personally adore little children and enjoy being in their company. They are easily and eagerly welcomed into our life, into our gatherings.

However, children in Jesus’ time were seen and treated very differently from the children of our time in this land. They were not given dignity, had no status, were regarded as useless and not valued at all by society. Families which had many children would not think twice about giving up a few of them, especially if they had poor health. They were expected to help relieve the family’s burdens and assist in labor and chores. They became valuable if they survived childhood and were able to work to contribute to the family’s betterment.

Even in current times, children in some other nations are still being treated like the children in the past. My own childhood is a good example. But I am very blessed that my parents loved all their seven children, cared for our well-being and provided for our needs.

We can thus understand why Jesus made it such a big deal at that time for someone to welcome a child, it was a teaching as radical as loving an enemy.

So what did Jesus do?

He attached His own value and status to a child. He said, "whoever receives a child in my name…"

In Jesus’ time, healthy men had all the benefits and privileges. A man with status and power, or with great abilities, was feared and respected. They would display their power and exercised their authority with arrogance and pride. They demanded and commanded the submission of others. The Jewish leaders were like that.

But now, Jesus teaches a controversial attitude and behavior. He calls for us to welcome and embrace the weak and the lowly, the poor and the powerless. He brings in a child who is nothing and has nothing in the standards of the world and raise him up to the dignity of His name.

Imagine that – when we welcome a child, we welcome Jesus. When we embrace and accept someone who has nothing, we actually receive Jesus who owns the whole universe!

Our God identifies Himself with the poor and associates His name with the lowly. In effect, He is also warning the proud-hearted and self-righteous.

Let this be a reminder to us, whoever we are, whatever we have achieved for ourselves, whether it is title, status, wealth, power, fame, success or recognition, it does little to raise our value in the eyes of God. 

He sees through all these, into our hearts. So we too, should look beyond all these externals and search deep into our own hearts for the true value of our being.

We are a child in the eyes of God. A child of God. Our value is in Jesus’ name.

St. James reminds the early Christians in today’s second reading: "But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity."

Be as pure and innocent as a child, as peaceable and gentle as a powerless person, as compliant and merciful as a servant, with all sincerity and humility. 

We become true believers and followers of Christ when we practise these virtues and attitudes in our life.

Amen.