Mark 10:13-16

James 5:13-20

Psalm 141:1-2, 3 and 8

Mark 10:13-16

People were bringing children to Jesus that he might touch them,

but the disciples rebuked them.

When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them,

“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.”

Then he embraced the children and blessed them,

placing his hands on them.

Opening Prayer: Lord God, I accept your Kingdom today like a child. I welcome it in simplicity and poverty of heart. I want to experience the healing touch of your Son. Call me each day to encounter you in prayer.

Encountering the Word of God

1. The Christian Life of Prayer: The First Reading, taken from the concluding paragraphs of the Letter of James, contains some very concrete exhortations for Christian life and alludes to two Sacraments: Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick. James’ main exhortation is to pray: prayer for consolation in our suffering; prayer for healing in our sickness; prayer of praise in our joy; and prayer of intercession for one another. Prayer is the raising of our hearts and minds to God or the request of good things from God. Prayer is a gift, founded on humility of heart. God seeks us out and our prayer is a response to him. Prayer is an encounter with God that takes place in our heart, the place of the Covenant between God and man in Christ (CCC, 2559-2564). Prayer is communion with Christ and the members of his Body the Church. When we pray for one another we build up this communion, the bonds of charity are strengthened and the peace of the New Covenant reigns.

2. Prayer and Humility: Prayer is founded on humility, and the children in today’s Gospel are models of both humility and prayer. Humility because the Kingdom of God belongs to the child-like. The Kingdom of God is the lordship of God. It is God who reigns, not us. At the same time, we are called to share in that reign. Humility is important because God’s lordship and sovereignty are rejected by the prideful and accepted by the humble. Second, the children are examples of prayer because they turn to Jesus, approach him, and allow themselves to be touched by him.

3. Prayer and the Sacraments: Prayer, then, is an encounter with God the Father through Jesus Christ and in the Holy Spirit. By opening our hearts to him in prayer we allow God to enter in, to reign and touch our hearts. This touch purifies us and strengthens us. This touch comes to us especially through the Sacraments. Baptism removes the stain of original sin and introduces us into the life of the Trinity; Confirmation strengthens us in the Spirit and enables us to worship God in the Spirit; the Eucharist nourishes us for the journey of life and unites us in the Body of Christ; Reconciliation brings us back into the fold and restores us to life; Anointing of the Sick unites us with the passion of Christ and prepares us for the final journey; Orders configures men to Christ as Priest, Teacher and Pastor; Matrimony perfects the couple's love and introduces them into the covenant between Christ and his Church.

Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, I recognize that I do not know how to pray as I should. You are the one who can teach me how to pray and enter into communion with the Father. Teach me to praise the Father for his goodness, to ask for good things in your name and according to his will, to thank him for his wondrous gifts, and to ask for forgiveness when I fail.

Living the Word of God: If I take an honest look at my life of prayer, what do I see? How can I improve my life of prayer? Do I need to reserve more time for prayer? Do I need to go beyond vocal prayer and try meditation or contemplation? Do I need to learn how to pray with my spouse or family? Have I taught my children and grandchildren how to pray?