14th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A - 9th July, 2017
All are favourites
There is a priest who is blessed with many nephews and nieces who give him great joy. At every family gathering he goes around to each of them and, after a warm greeting, whispers into each person’s ear, the words: “favourite nephew” or “favourite niece”! There is a tacit conspiracy between them all not to speak of the greeting. Each knows that each receives the same greeting! There is neither jealousy nor rivalry – just a mischievous delight in this expression of family friendship. Each feels cherished; each feels special for that moment. (Perhaps in reply they each whisper in his ear: “Favourite uncle” to which he might not object either!)
Jesus calls the children his favourites
Today Jesus declares who his favourites are – the children – and this is his prayer: “I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding these things from the learned and clever and revealing them to mere children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do.”
Of course God has favourites!
One of the twelve disciples, John, was called the beloved disciple. When Jesus was baptized a voice came from heaven saying: “This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him.” (Mtt 3:17)
How to be God’s favourite
If we wish to be called God’s favourite Jesus told us that we have to become like little children. That means returning to a dependence on God for everything. It means that I allow God to whisper into my ear: “favourite son” or “favourite daughter”.
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