Daily Gospel Reflection
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March 1, 2025
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.
The spirit of a child is something to marvel at, and the way children express themselves can teach us a great lesson. When I was growing up, I remember asking my Dad question after question, eager to figure out how this world works. Many children do this, quick to ask questions as they take in the fresh world around them.
However, at some point, I think we lose this knack for not only asking questions but also asking for help. We can easily throw life’s stresses on our shoulders, white-knuckling our way through problems. What is interesting in today’s gospel is how Jesus brings our attention back to children as he embraces, blesses, and places his hands on them.
When I went to college, it seemed like one of the only things that remained constant was that I was still at a Catholic school. As I felt the weight of my anxiety and expectations build up once again in this new setting, instead of relying on my own strength to find my way through, I was called to have this childlike dependency on something higher. Through this dependency, I felt a gravitational pull to seek out Christ with my whole mind and heart. When I picked up the scripture for myself, I could finally realize the relationship Christ was trying to have with me all along. Christ embraced, blessed, and placed his hands on me when I needed him the most.
Children can teach us far more about ourselves than we think they can. In today’s gospel, we are called to ask ourselves, “How can I be more dependent on God and less dependent on myself?”
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you came not to judge or reject but to embrace and cherish. Still, we shy away from you with feelings of guilt and unworthiness. We know that we will not find peace if we refuse ourselves or others the hope and delight of your embrace. Help us to believe in you with childlike trust that we might have eternal life in you. Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Albinus was so well known for working miracles that faithful people all over Europe, from Spain to Poland, prayed for his intercession. Many French parishes are named after him to this day.
He was born in northern France to a family who landed there from England or Ireland. As a young man, he entered a nearby monastery. By the time he was 35, he was elected abbot of the monastery, and when Angers, France, needed a bishop in 529, the people turned to him.
As bishop, Albinus preached every day, and took great care of the sick and the poor. He had a special care for widows who were raising large families. He also was famous for his work ransoming captives. Nearby barbarian forces would raid the cities, and he spent large amounts of money to buy back prisoners who had been enslaved.
Once, the king himself carried off a beautiful young girl and locked her away for his own pleasure. When Albinus heard about it, he went directly to the castle and demanded her freedom. The guards dared not oppose him and handed her over. The king did not pursue, but had the gall to demand a ransom for her freedom, which Albinus paid himself.
Albinus healed the sick and restored sight to the blind, and even was known to raise from the dead one boy named Alabald. Albinus died in 550.
St. Albinus, you were the French bishop who freed captives, cured the sick, and even raised the dead, pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Albinus is available for use under a Creative Commons license. Edited from the original. Last accessed January 30, 2025 on Wikimedia Commons.
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