Have you ever wondered where the scriptural basis for the Catholic sacrament of the anointing of the sick came from? The first reading for mass today, from the Letter of Saint James sounds just like our modern day sacrament of the anointing of the sick:
“Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the Church, and they should pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.” Jas 5:14-15
The next verse in today’s reading also speaks about the Catholic sacrament of confession. Many non-catholics ask why do we confess our sins to a priest? And where is that found in the bible? Well, the basis for confession can found in today’s first reading from the Letter of Saint James:
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” Jas 5:16
Catholic priests received the authority to “bind and loose” sins through confession, that was passed down directly from Jesus Christ, when Jesus told Saint Peter, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Mt 16:19
The first reading today ends by telling us the value of helping another person turn from their sins, “if anyone among you should stray from the truth and someone bring him back, he should know that whoever brings back a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”
Both of the readings for mass today illustrate the need to turn from our sins and be forgiven and healed though. The gospel today shows that Jesus values the innocence, spontaneity and love that small children have. Whatever sins they may have are like gnats compared to the sins that many adults commit. Is it any wonder that Jesus loves children? He took up for them even when his own disciples kept them away.
Many adults do not like to be around children because they think that children are a nuisance, but that wasn’t the case with Jesus. Jesus loved children. He said, “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.”
As adults, it’s difficult to experience life and to live in the present moment with an open mind and heart the way children do. Jesus knew his disciples’ hearts were closed to the children. They viewed children as a nuisance in general, and their hearts were not right. The children’s hearts were though. Children simply love people, just as they are.
Small children have such a wonderful way of loving other people. They don’t judge, or hold a grudge, or have preconceived ideals about people. They are accepting and loving of people that many adults might reject, like the “black sheep” of the family. Children love them just the same as everyone else. Maybe that is why Jesus said that the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these? He said if we do not change our hearts and become more like the children, then we might not make it into heaven. Can you picture anyone being irritated or complaining when they reach heaven?
Today is a good day to go to confession and leave with a clean conscience and a clean slate. Right after confession is when we resemble a small child the most. Actually, some of us adults feel like little children waiting outside the confessional sometimes, too. We still carry that little child that we used to be inside of us. The trick is to bring our inner child more to the surface, by keeping an open mind and an open heart. Children are full of joy and full of love. Life isn’t so complicated for them, and it shouldn’t be for us either.
Daily Mass Readings:
Jas 5: 13-20 / Ps 14: 1-2, 3, 8 / Mk 10: 13-16
