P R A Y I N G W I T H T H E C H U R C H
|
INTENTION : |
That children may be considered as precious gifts of God and may be given due respect, understanding and love.
|
"We do not have to go far into the gospels to see how precious and important children were in the eyes of Jesus, how worthy of respect, understanding and love. On several occasions He shocked His listeners by insisting that adults listen and learn from children. Instead of simply growing older, grown ups must strive to become like children!
The Church together with the thinking of the United Nations, echoes the care, concern and love for children that Jesus manifested. In the family special attention must be devoted to children by developing a profound esteem for their personal dignity and rights. It becomes all the more urgent when children are sick, suffering or handicapped.
A Christmas message of John Paul II in 2002 reminds us that the child Jesus is still a sign that reveals the special dignity of each and every child. "The child in a lowly manger is God's sign. The centuries and millennia pass, but the sign remains ... It is a sign of hope for the whole human family and for those suffering from conflicts of every kind. It is a sign of freedom for the poor and the oppressed and of mercy for those caught up in the vicious circle of sin; a sign of love and consolation for those who feel lonely and abandoned. A small fragile sign, humble and quiet, but one filled with the power of God who out of love became man."
|
|
