Job said in today’s first reading for Mass:
“Pity me, pity me, O you my friends, for the hand of God has struck me! Why do you hound me as though you were divine, and insatiably prey upon me?”
It sounds like Job’s friends were pretty cruel, they treated him like almost like bullies do in school. Anyone that is different from them, they will sometimes torment. It is a shame this happens. It is so damaging to children. It damages their self esteem and they often carry the unkind words that were said to them as children, well into their adult life.
The saints were also treated this way though. People thought they were overly pious, strange, putting on an act, or had ulterior motives. Padre Pio is the first one that comes to mind, because a few of his peers thought his holiness wasn’t genuine. Saint Faustina too, was not well regarded in her own community either. People thought she was a little strange, or odd, because of her conversations with the Lord and the visions she experienced. Not everyone believed her, that she genuinely experienced visions of Jesus Christ. But, we certainly do now.
Sooner or later everyone experiences unkind treatment, false accusations, and rash judgements about their lives or their motives. We shouldn’t let this affect us too much though. Our accusers are not necessarily right, just because they throw accusations at us. Job’s friends mistreated him, but that did not sway him in the least. He said in today’s first reading that, “as for me, I know that my Vindicator lives.” The devil accuses, but the Holy Spirit is our Advocate.
The last sentence of the first reading is the most beautiful of all. Job’s heart is in these words, even thousands of years after they were written:
“My inmost being is consumed with longing.”
The responsorial psalm today also reflects a similar sentiment:
“Of you my heart speaks; you my glance seeks.”
As we go on to the read the gospel today, it says that Jesus called a child over to him and placed it in their midst, saying:
“Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of God.”
Children live almost entirely by their heart. They run around boisterously, cry when it’s not convenient, make messes, and are a general nuisance at times because they can not control their impulses very well. It is easy to get frustrated or upset with them. But, no matter how they may act outwardly, or how much they act up, their little hearts are like butter. They take everything to heart, even the words we do not realize that they hear us say sometimes. Words can scar their hearts, and leave impressions there that will affect them the rest of their lives.
But, Jesus said to everyone in the gospel today:
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.”
These words are a warning for us to not vent our irritations on our children, grandchildren, our nieces and nephews, or even little children in public. They are so defenseless that Jesus himself felt the need to stand up for them. He greatly esteemed them. When Jesus spoke about their angels in heaven, that always looked upon the face of his Father, it wasn’t just something that he read in a book. Jesus knew this firsthand. He had personally seen the Guardian angels before the throne of God. Not a thing occurs to a little child, that escapes the notice of their Guardian angel, or God the Father for that matter.
The opposite is also true though. Even the smallest act of love, tenderness and kindness that we show a child will also be remembered too. Kindness is definitely something that little children always remember, sometimes even into their old age. A small kindness can make such a difference in their lives at that moment, but it can also be a memory that will be with them the rest of their lives too.
Daily Mass Readings:
Job 19: 21-27 / Psalm 27 / Matthew 18: 1-5, 10
