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Gospel Reading for January 18, 2026 – Matthew 18: 1-5, 10
GRAVE INJUSTICE
Feast of the Sto. Niño
The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”
He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.”
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In the olden days, most children were expected to be very obedient to their parents and the elders. They were not allowed to engage in casual conversation with adults and were allowed to speak only if the adults talk to them, and so on and so forth. It was easy to make children obedient because it is a common trait of children.
But nowadays, a lot of children have become a bit different because of their exposure to multi-media. If they are exposed to immoral and negative platforms, they become sort of “adulterated,” or corrupted, debased, made impure by the addition of a foreign or inferior substance or element. This word is commonly used for food, when there is addition or subtraction of any substance, such that its natural composition and quality is affected. The childlike qualities of children are affected by their environment , exposure, and most especially, the kind of family they have.
It is a GRAVE INJUSTICE to bring children into the world and not provide decent living conditions, education, healthcare and protection from possible dangers and abuses of all kinds. It is worst, if the parents themselves are the abusers, leaving an indelible mark on the children who will be badly affected not only in the present, but more so, in the future.
Now, we understand why Mary was chosen to be Jesus’ mother, and St. Joseph his foster father!
We pray Lord for parents to realize their great role in shaping the future of their children!
