TEACHING HOLINESS TO CHILDREN – 01/31/22 (Memorial of St. John Bosco)

Mark 5:18-20

18 And as He was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 But He refused, and said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decap'olis how much Jesus had done for him; and all men marveled.

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Blessed Memorial of St. John Bosco, a priest! Even though Jesus did not accept the man who was once possessed to be His disciple, He called Him to share the wonderful deeds of Christ for him to his family and other people. And, he was able to share the good news only after being delivered from the evil spirits by the power of Christ. We can also see this in the life of St. John Bosco. He was a very devoted man, and he accepted His calling to priesthood. At the same time, St. John Bosco also had a calling to be an educator. Knowing the importance of salvation to the soul, he incorporated the religious education and his spiritual guidance to the studies and plays of the students. In this way, there was progress in their spiritual life, especially when they were also taught about the importance of frequent receptions of Sacraments such as confession and Eucharist. 

Jesus has a unique calling for each individual. He calls others to priesthood and religious life while He calls some to the vocation of married life. Still, all of us have the responsibility of teaching children about holiness. We can teach them through our good works and through our actions. As such, we should encounter Christ by spending more time with Him in prayers, by following His Will and by receiving His graces in the sacraments. We can be instruments of His Mercy only if we have accepted this Mercy in our lives. Children look at the examples of people who live the faith consistently in their lives. Our Lord is also inviting us to discern His will how we can speak to children about the necessity of following Christ. 

Children are innocent and open to different things. If they are taught wrong ideologies, then that will have a negative effect on them as they grow up and will make it difficult for them to be faithful to Christ. At the same time, if they are taught about the dignity of all human beings, about the teachings of the Catholic Church and the the importance of spirituality in life, they can be more open to God's graces. There were many people who knew the background of the possessed man in the gospel reading. In the same way, many people may know our weaknesses and the sins we committed in the past and use that to mock us and criticize us when we teach the faith to young children. Let's not be discouraged. God is our Shield, and the rewards for us and for the children are awaiting us if we are faithful to His calling. 

Amen +

 

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, be with us always until the hour of our death. Amen. +

 

May the Lord + bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. +  

Reflection by: Dominic