Readings
Ecclesiasticus 17:1-13
Mark 10:13-16
Reflection
“Anyone who does not become like a little child will never enter the kingdom of heaven”
One of my favourite types of work I get to do for the Passionist Youth Retreat Team is running grade 5 retreats. One retreat, in particular, I’ll never forget was a small class group of about 50 (compared to the normal size of 120 we normally do), and as we were at the end of the day reading the story of the Good Samaritan, just as I got up to the part about the priest who walked on the other side. A young boy piped up with a loud gasp in shock. “Miss!” he yelled across the room,“ he should be fired. He’s meant to be a good person, and he just ignored the person in need!!”. He was genuinely in awe of the actions of the priest.
The comment and raw reaction caught me off guard, and once I found my words, we encouraged the kids into a discussion.
This 10-year-old boy reacted with more authenticity and earnestness than any teenager or, let’s be honest, adult I’ve ever witnessed.
These grade 5 kids were so ready to believe in hope for the future. They were bursting with ideas of right action and how to improve their school. How to make everyone feel included.
It’s this that so makes me understand Christ’s comments in today’s gospel.
I wonder, how can we more deeply enter into authenticity and be struck with the wonderful scandal that is the good news of the gospel?
How can we be humble like the little children, so aware of our need for mercy and grace and the love of God?
Claire O’Donohue is a current Oxley Passionist Youth Retreat Team member. While also in her final year of university, she is completing her bachelor’s degree with a major in visual art and theology.