Saturday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Or Optional Memorial of Saint Stephen of Hungary
Matthew 19:13-15
Let the Children Come

In today’s Gospel, Jesus welcomes children with open arms and lays His hands upon them. This gentle yet powerful gesture is rich with meaning: it signifies blessing, transmission of the Holy Spirit, and divine embrace. The laying on of hands marks every sacrament of Christian life—from baptism to holy orders—reminding us that God’s Spirit dwells within us and empowers us, especially when we feel weak or lost.

Jesus tells us, “Do not prevent them.” How often, in our own subtle ways, do we become obstacles to others seeking God? Perhaps through judgment, indifference, or pride, we may unwittingly block the path. But Jesus reminds us that no one is too small, too different, or too far to encounter His love. Our role is not to filter who “deserves” God but to let everyone come to Him—especially those on the margins.

The Kingdom of God belongs to the childlike. Not the childish, but those who are humble, trusting, and unburdened by ego. In ministry, in our families, or in society, we’re often faced with a choice: to live with charism—as self-giving servants—or to let that gift mutate into a quest for control and power. The simplicity of a child keeps us rooted in truth: we receive everything from God, and we give everything back.

Let us ask ourselves today: where has my desire for influence overshadowed my desire to serve? Am I still approaching God—and others—with the openness and wonder of a child?

May the Holy Spirit, first given to us at baptism, renew our hearts. May we have the courage to welcome others without barriers and the humility to enter the Kingdom, not as the powerful, but as children held in the hands of the Father.

© Claretian Publications, Hong Kong, China
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica 2025