Mark 1

Mark 1:11

JESUS AND THE LITTLE CHILDREN

[Mark 19, 11: 15. Mark 10, 11—17. Luke 18, 15—17]

1. He blesses them and bids them come to him.

ON one occasion some pious mothers brought their children to Jesus, that He might impose hands¹ upon them to bless them. But His disciples, thinking that He would not trouble Himself with infants, began to rebuke the mothers², and to send them away³. However this conduct of His disciples was not pleasing⁴ to our Divine Lord, and He said to them: “Suffer little children to come to me, and forbid them not, for of such⁵ is the kingdom of heaven.” Then, embracing⁶ the children, He placed His Hand on their heads and blessed them.

¹ Impose hands. From the time of the patriarchs, the laying on of hands had signified the imparting of a higher grace or power.

² The mothers. Some of them were carrying their infants in their arms, while others led them by the hand.

³ Away. Probably they thought Jesus was tired with preaching and working cures, and so wished to shield Him from further importunities.

⁴ Not pleasing. Because they knew Him and His Divine Heart so little. They ought to have known that Jesus was never tired of doing good, and that showing an interest in innocent children was refreshment to Him rather than labour.

⁵ Of such. Of those who are childlike in disposition. ⁶ Embracing. In order to testify His love for them. 35* — XXXIX. JESUS AND THE LITTLE CHILDREN.

2. He commends a childlike disposition and warns us against scandalizing little ones.

Mat. 18, 1-10. Mark 9, 32-36 Luke 9, 46-48.

He said to those who stood around¹: “Amen. I say unto you, unless you become as little children², you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. He that shall receive³ one such little child in My name, receiveth Me⁴. But he that shall scandalize⁵ one of these little ones that believe in Me, it were better⁶ for him that a mill-stone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea. See that you despise not⁷ one of these little ones; for I say to you that

¹ To those around. Returning to Capharnaum the apostles, as they walked along, had disputed among themselves as to who should be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Very likely the choice of Peter to be the rock of the Church, and the preference shown to him and to James and John, had given rise to this strife of words. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, had called the twelve to him and said: ‘If any man desire to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.’ Then, calling to Him a little child, He set him in the midst of the apostles, and spoke the words we have just read: “Amen, I say to you, unless you become as little children” &c.

² As little children. i. e. candid, unassuming, humble. The sight of the little child gave our Lord the opportunity of commending to them all children and childlike people.

³ Receive. Whoever shall minister to the wants of his soul and body.

⁴ Receiveth Me. It will be counted to him as if he had ministered to Me.

⁵ Scandalize. Shall rob him of innocence and faith by precept or bad example.

⁶ It were better. It would have been better for such an one to have died the most miserable death rather than to have drawn on himself everlasting punishment by reason of giving scandal. “Woe to the world because of scandals”, our Lord goes on to say, “for it must needs be that scandals come (the world being so corrupt, and man having free will, scandals will never quite cease on earth), but nevertheless woe to that man by whom the scandal cometh. And if thy hand or thy foot scandalize thee, cut it off and cast it from thee. It is better for thee to go into life maimed or lame, than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. And if thy eye scandalize thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee. It is better for thee having one eye to enter into life, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.” This means that if anything, be it friendship, pursuit, or amusement, induces you to sin, you are to have nothing more to do with it, never mind how dear it may be to you, or how much the parting from it may cost you. It is better for you to be maimed, i. e. to renounce something dear to you on earth, and reach heaven, than to enjoy everything here and be eternally lost. It stands to reason, however, that there will really be no mutilation in heaven.

⁷ Despise not. Our Lord returns to the subject of the child. Not only are these little ones not to be scandalized, but they are not even to be despised, as if they were not worth caring for or tending.

— XXXIX. JESUS AND THE LITTLE CHILDREN.

their angels¹ in heaven always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.”

COMMENTARY.

The love of Jesus for children. How touching is the tender affection shown by our Blessed Lord for little children, the young ones of His flock. What an encouragement, too, for those who seek to guard them from the dangers of the world, and who train their minds in the ways of God! He pressed these little ones to His Heart, and, laying His sacred Hands on them, blessed them. Now, what was His object in blessing them? The mothers begged His blessing for their children, in the hope that it might preserve them from sickness, or early death. But our Lord’s object was far higher. He imparted His divine blessing to these little ones, in order that they might remain humble, innocent and pious, and become worthy members of His kingdom. It was because they are simple, humble, believing and innocent that our Lord loved children so much.

Those for whom the kingdom of heaven is intended. Our Lord did not say it was intended literally for children, but for such as they—not merely for children in age, but for those who are childlike in heart, simple, believing, and humble.

“Suffer little children to come unto Me.” This command was given for all times. Parents, and those who represent them, ought to bring their children to Jesus; they ought to take care that they are, first of all, admitted into the Church by holy Baptism; that they learn to know and love Him by means of a Christian education; and that, as soon as they are capable of receiving it, they are united to Him by Holy Communion, and strengthened in virtue by the imposition of hands and anointing of Confirmation.

Christian teachers. Our Lord’s behaviour to children imposes on those who teach them the imperative duty of always loving the children committed to their charge in an especial manner, as the favourites of our Lord; of trying to be a real blessing to these little ones by word and example; and of never being turned from this duty, either by the weariness of the burden, or the ingratitude with which parents may repay their services. To lead children to Jesus is the highest ideal of Christian education.

Our Lord’s Omniscience. He knew why His disciples were disputing, and what vain thoughts they were fostering in their hearts.

Humility is a beautiful and necessary virtue. He who wishes to be a follower of Jesus must renounce pride and be humble of heart

¹ Their angels. They have angels who are to be their guardians, always gazing on the Vision of God, and always with God; and these angels will rise up and accuse those who scandalize or despise the little ones.

— XXXIX. JESUS AND THE LITTLE CHILDREN.

The more humble a man is, the more worthy is he in the sight of God, Mary, Joseph, Peter, and all those to whom such high offices were given, were especially distinguished for their deep humility.

Giving scandal is a terrible sin. He who induces or forces others to sin, acts the part of a very devil, and draws damnation on himself.

The proximate occasions of sin. Sin is the greatest of all evils. It is a far greater evil than the most miserable death. Therefore a Christian, if he wishes to guard his soul against mortal sin, must carefully avoid the proximate occasions of sin; for no sacrifice on our part can be too great, if it serves to save our souls.

Guardian Angels. In the Old Testament we came across repeated examples which confirm the Catholic doctrine about guardian angels. In the chapter we have just read we learn from our Lord’s own lips that children have guardian angels, who are their advocates before God. Although our guardian angels are invisible to our eyes, they themselves are ever gazing on the Face of God. “Whithersoever the angels be sent, and wheresoever they are, they never cease to live in Him who is to be found everywhere, even in God, the Vision of whom makes their heaven and their joy” (S. Thomas Aquinas).

The Value of a Soul. “A human soul is so precious that, as each one enters into being, an angel is given to it to be its guardian” (S. Jerome).

Hell is an everlasting fire.

APPLICATION. What a happiness for those little children to go to Jesus Himself, and be blessed by Him? But how about you? Cannot you also taste of that happiness? Cannot you also go to Jesus Himself? Yes! In the church dwells that same Jesus, present with His Divinity and Manhood in the Blessed Sacrament, and there you can go to Him, worship Him, and speak to Him; and by the hand of His priest receive His blessing, both at Mass and at Benediction. Give your hearts to this Divine Lover of children! Visit Him often in the church; promise Him that you will be holy and humble children, and ask for His help to keep your promise!

Do you ever dispute with your brothers and sisters as to who is the greatest among you? Do you want to be preferred to your comrades? As often as this sort of temptation to pride arises in your heart, say: “I will not be proud! Humble Jesus, I will follow Thee!”

Avoid bad companions! — XL. FRATERNAL CORRECTION.—FORGIVENESS OF INJURIES.

Mark 1:16

THE DANGER OF RICHES AND THE REWARD OF VOLUNTARY POVERTY A PARABLE

[Mark 19, 16-30 Luke 18, 18-30, 12, 13-14]

ON one occasion a young man came to Jesus, and, kneeling before Him, said: “Good Master, what good shall I do that I may have life everlasting?” Jesus answered: “If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” He asked: “Which commandments?“¹ Jesus said to him: “Thou shalt not kill; thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal; thou shalt not bear false witness; honour thy father and thy mother; and thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

The youth replied: “All these I have kept² from my youth.” Jesus, knowing that this was true, looked tenderly³ upon him, and said: “If thou wilt be perfect, go, sell what thou hast, and give it to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven⁴; then come and follow Me.” Hearing these words, the young man went away sorrowful⁵, for he was very rich.

Then Peter said: “Behold, we have left all things and have followed thee. What therefore shall we have?” And Jesus said to them: “Amen I say to you, that you who have followed me, in the regeneration, when the Son of Man shall sit on the seat of His

¹ “Which commandments?” The young man asked this, because he really wished to know to which of the commandments our Lord’s answer chiefly applied. Our Lord enumerated the last half of the commandments, which treat of our duty to our neighbour, because these were the commandments most frequently transgressed by the Jews.

² I have kept. “What is yet wanting to me?” he added. He put this question, because his soul had not found full satisfaction in the mere observance of the law, and he felt inwardly drawn by grace to serve God more perfectly.

³ Looked tenderly. Scripture tells us that “Jesus, looking on him, loved him”. It gave Him joy to see this young man’s yearning after a higher perfection, and He sought to encourage him to follow the secret movements of grace.

⁴ Treasure in heaven. “If you renounce your fortune you will, indeed, be poor in this life, but you will lay up in heaven a rich treasure of merits.”

⁵ Sorrowful. His heart was too set on his riches to give them up and obey the call of grace, and become a poor disciple of Jesus Christ. Had the young man despised his wealth and followed Jesus, he would now be a Saint in heaven, and even renowned on earth; as it is, we cannot tell whether he died in the grace of God or not.

— XLVII. THE DANGER OF RICHES.

Majesty, you also shall sit on twelve seats judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath left house or brethren or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting” (Mat. 19, 27—29).

Again one day one of the multitude said to Him: “Master, speak to my brother that he divide the inheritance with me.” Jesus replied: “Man, who hath made me a judge or a divider over you?”

Then, addressing the multitude, He said: “Take heed, and beware of all covetousness, for a man’s life doth not consist in the abundance of things.” Then He spoke a parable to them as follows: “The land of a certain rich man brought forth plenty of fruits. So he thought within himself: ‘What shall I do, because I have not where to lay up together my fruits?’ This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater ones, and into them I will gather all things that are grown to me, and my goods. Then I will say to my soul: ‘Soul, thou hast many goods laid up for many years; take thy rest, eat, drink, make good cheer!’ But God said to him: ‘Thou fool! this night do they require thy soul of thee, and whose shall those things be which thou hast provided?’’ Then the Divine Master added: “So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich towards God.” ¹

COMMENTARY.

Faith alone will not save us; for the observance of God’s commandments is also necessary. In other words, he who desires to be saved must not only have faith, but must live up to his faith. His faith must be living, and active in love.

¹ God. Our Lord warned the disciples of the danger of riches by these words: “Amen I say to you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you: It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (This was a figure of speech which meant that a thing was, naturally, impossible.) When the disciples heard this, they wondered very much, saying: “Who then can be saved?” for they knew how much rich people cling to their riches, and how much poor people desire to possess them. And Jesus said to them: “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible”, i. e. by his own strength no man can free himself of his love of the world and its possessions, but he can do so by the help of God’s grace.

— XLVII. THE REWARD OF VOLUNTARY POVERTY.—A PARABLE. 575

The Necessity of Grace. Man, being weak and sinful, cannot possibly keep the commandments and save his soul of himself. He requires the assistance of God’s grace.

The Evangelical Counsels. The young man had kept the commandments from his youth up; and yet he did not feel satisfied. He wished to do even more than was commanded, or was absolutely necessary; in other words, he wished to reach a higher state of perfection. Our Lord, seeing this, gave him this counsel: “If thou wishest to be perfect, become voluntarily poor, and follow Me.” There is no desire more noble, or more pleasing to God than the desire for perfection; and as our Lord looked at the young man, He loved him for this yearning of his soul.

Resistance of grace. The rich young man was called to a state of perfection by the longing for it which had arisen in his heart, by the impulse of divine grace, and by our Lord’s express invitation. Had he corresponded with grace, he would have been a Christian, a Saint, and perhaps even an apostle in the place of Judas. We may well ask ourselves what became of him after he resisted our Lord’s gracious invitation, because of his too great attachment to the things of this world. Does he now gaze in heaven on that Divine Face from which, on earth, he turned away? The solemn words uttered by our Lord as the young man went away: “Amen I say to you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven”, lead us to fear that, after his rejection of the invitation of Jesus, he may have lost all faith in Him, and therefore all hope of heaven.

Why riches are dangerous. A rich man very easily grows proud, and often uses his wealth as a means of gratifying his evil inclinations. He feels, moreover, so comfortable and satisfied with his possessions that he has no desire for grace and the treasures of heaven. Riches turn a man’s heart away from the things of God (see chapter XXI). Now the rich man can avoid these dangers only by the grace of God; he must therefore pray fervently, take to heart the truths of faith, frequent the Sacraments, and use his riches in the service of God, in alms-giving &c., if he does not wish to lose his soul.

APPLICATION. Could you say what the young man said: “All the commandments have I kept from my childhood?” Against which of the commandments have you most sinned? What is wanting to you now? (See chapter XLVI.)

— 576 XLVIII. JESUS GIVES SIGHT ON THE SABBATH TO THE MAN BORN BLIND.