Soccer Moms And Jesus | February 25, 2017

February 25, 2017

I once visited a friend who was your quintessential “soccer mom.” I knew this because there was a huge basket in the entry way of her house filled to the brim with those large buttons with each of her kid’s pictures in their soccer uniforms from every year/soccer season of their entire lives. It seemed like there were 100’s of buttons in that basket, proudly greeting every guest with unabashed mommy fandom. I know “soccer moms” have a love/hate reputation like wearing the buttons with your child’s picture on it is sweet and touching, but running onto the soccer field wielding a spit covered thumb to wipe the dirt off her baby’s face and/or yelling insults at the ref or fist fighting another mom in the stands is just too much. Moms have forever wanted the best for their children and will do whatever it takes to make sure that they get it. These mamma bear instincts are alive and well in today’s gospel.

“People were bringing children to Jesus that he might touch them.” Insert the word “Moms were bringing children to Jesus that he might touch them.” In the Middle East, moms were responsible for teaching the faith to children up to a certain age. Moms, therefore, knew the Jewish faith very well and obviously this Jesus character made a deep and lasting impression on them, so much so that they were willing to forego the social norm of not comingling with men just so that their baby could receive the blessings or one touch from Jesus.  Moms are fierce when it comes to protecting their children. They recognized that Jesus would totally wear a button with their baby’s face on it if he could and they knew that little Johnny and Susie needed whatever this man was giving out.

The Apostles were just responding to the social standards of their day by rebuking the women, not the children. Children in the Middle East were essentially allowed to roam around anywhere, as they were the ones sent to the market for daily rations or to give messages to dad, etc. The Apostles were rebuking the women who brought them there and Jesus makes a statement today do not inhibit the ones that recognize me as Messiah because they are the ones teaching the faith to these children. They have studied me in the Scriptures and they see me now as the one. Again, Jesus tells us that ALL are welcome. “Let the children come to me,” (at the promptings of their moms) “do not prevent them,” (moms and children) “for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (moms and children) Accepting the Kingdom of God like a child means moving toward Jesus at the gentle nudging of those that recognize Jesus as Messiah. Once we reach him, he will embrace us, bless us, and perhaps there is a giant basket at the gates of heaven with all of our faces on a button proclaiming how proud he is of each and every one of his children. Have a blessed day.

Reading 1 SIR 17:1-15

God from the earth created man,
and in his own image he made him.
He makes man return to earth again,
and endows him with a strength of his own.
Limited days of life he gives him,
with power over all things else on earth.
He puts the fear of him in all flesh,
and gives him rule over beasts and birds.
He created for them counsel, and a tongue and eyes and ears, 
and an inventive heart,
and filled them with the discipline of understanding.
He created in them knowledge of the spirit;
With wisdom he fills their heart;
good and evil he shows them.
He put the fear of himself upon their hearts,
and showed them his mighty works,
That they might glory in the wonder of his deeds
and praise his holy name.
He has set before them knowledge,
a law of life as their inheritance;
An everlasting covenant he has made with them,
his justice and his judgments he has revealed to them.
His majestic glory their eyes beheld,
his glorious voice their ears heard.
He says to them, "Avoid all evil";
each of them he gives precepts about his fellow men.
Their ways are ever known to him,
they cannot be hidden from his eyes.
Over every nation he places a ruler,
but God's own portion is Israel.
All their actions are clear as the sun to him,
his eyes are ever upon their ways.

Responsorial Psalm PS 103:13-14, 15-16, 17-18

R. (see 17) The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
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.
R. The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
Man's days are like those of grass;
like a flower of the field he blooms;
The wind sweeps over him and he is gone,
and his place knows him no more.
R. The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
But the kindness of the LORD is from eternity
to eternity toward those who fear him,
And his justice toward children's children
among those who keep his covenant.
R. The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.

Alleluia SEE MT 11:25

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MK 10:13-16

People were bringing children to Jesus that he might touch them,
but the disciples rebuked them.
When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them,
"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."
Then he embraced the children and blessed them,
placing his hands on them.