HOMILY FROM CANON STEPHEN BAILLIE
Homily
25th Sunday of B21
What kind of welcome?
Children occupied an interesting place in the first century household (for Jews and Romans alike). They represented the future – they would carry on the family name, provide for their aging parents, and produce the next generation. But in the present, they were a liability. Small children, especially, were more likely to contract an illness and to die. They participated in the household labour, but were not fully productive, and still represented another mouth to feed.
Many historians of this period compare the status of children in such a situation to that of a slave. However, the power dynamics were more powerful than that. On one hand, an adult slave could be ‘worth’ more in the present; on the other hand, even the smallest child was a member of the ‘household’ – an honour to which a slave was unlikely (and in most cases unable) to attain.
Children were insiders left on the outside. And they are the ones Jesus commands us to welcome. On the one hand, this is just another instance of Jesus turning the expectations of the world upside down. It is a great reversal in the name of justice, the kind of which Luke’s Gospel is famous for – read the Magnificat there. But on the other hand, here in Mark’s Gospel we also experience something else. With children, at least, the power dynamics are not so black and white – it is not so much a question of who is great and who is not, but instead it is a question of welcome.
Put it another way, Jesus isn’t interested in who we SAY is the greatest or even in who acts like the greatest or looks to be great. Jesus is interested in who acts with the greatest grace, compassion and love.
How do we welcome the child?
How do we welcome our Lord?
As we begin to start returning to the norm in our churches, I have spent the last few weeks celebrating all the class Masses in St Joseph’s Primary School and have nearly completed all the class Masses in Our Lady of the Mission’s Primary School – Highlighting that as we being this new term that the Lord will bless and protect our children, their teachers and families.
Our Parish communities of St Joseph’s, Clarkston and St Bridget’s, Eaglesham are NOW OPEN TO PRAYER – and are encouraging our families and parishioners to come back to Mass. As we do this, it is now time to stop placing this on our Parish Social Media and Facebook and look forward to seeing you all in person at Mass. Thank you for all your faithfully support and presence over these last 18 months. May God bless and reward you, your families and loved ones.
