Familly and Love

 Reflection on Today's Readings, Tuesday of 4th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 11, February 1st, 2022
Texts: 2 Sam.18:9 -10,14b,24-25a,30-19:3; Ps. 86:1-6; Mark 5:21-43
In today's first reading and the gospel reading, we see the love that should be between parents and their children. In the case of David the love was so extraordinary. His love was extraordinary because the son in question was also an enemy and hardly we anyone cry over the death of such child. His love is always stronger than life; he was always ready to give his life for what he loved. It is said, "as he wept, he said, 'O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom!  Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!'" He cried over the  death of a vile child like any parent would do over the death of a beloved child. David challenges our time and age in which parents could sell their children for money, parents could use their children for ritual to get power, position of authority, fame, money, etc. We live in a world where land, power, authority, money, fame, etc are prioritised over family. A brother could kill another brother over land, title or property. Children could also use their parents for ritual to get rich, to be famous or to fortify themselves. David challenges us that even a vile child should not be abused or degraded so as to prioritise land, power, authority, fame etc over him/her. We should have compassion for even a vile child. We should always think of how to save even a vile child.
Jarius, the officer of a synagogue, has become an example of parents who care for their children. He left home to look for Jesus so that He could heal his daughter. A good parent is filled with faith by which he/she is connected to God and pleasing to Him. Parents should always invite Jesus Christ to their families to touch and heal them. We also learn from the gospel reading that the faith of the parents could save their children when they are young. This also sheds light on infant baptism. The children are baptised based on the faith of their parents. The children are saved by the faith of their parents.

Lord our God, help us to love you and one another in our family, that we may live together in love and peace. Amen

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke