Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them

18 AUGUST (Mt 19,13-15)

From the first moment of conception, the human person belongs to God, is under his custody, protection, care and great love. Even before conception, God designed him for a particular purpose, to show a spark of his mercy, wisdom, intelligence, truth, will for salvation and eternal life. Samuel enters the service of the Lord from an early age. To the Lord age does not count.

Hannah rose after one such meal at Shiloh, and presented herself before the Lord; at the time, Eli the priest was sitting on a chair near the doorpost of the Lord’s temple. In her bitterness she prayed to the Lord, weeping copiously, and she made a vow, promising: “O Lord of hosts, if you look with pity on the misery of your handmaid, if you remember me and do not forget me, if you give your handmaid a male child, I will give him to the Lord for as long as he lives; neither wine nor liquor shall he drink, and no razor shall ever touch his head.”

As she remained long at prayer before the Lord, Eli watched her mouth, for Hannah was praying silently; though her lips were moving, her voice could not be heard. Eli, thinking her drunk, said to her, “How long will you make a drunken show of yourself? Sober up from your wine!” “It isn’t that, my lord,” Hannah answered. “I am an unhappy woman. I have had neither wine nor liquor; I was only pouring out my troubles to the Lord. Do not think your handmaid a ne’er-do-well; my prayer has been prompted by my deep sorrow and misery.” Eli said, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.” She replied, “Think kindly of your maidservant,” and left. She went to her quarters, ate and drank with her husband, and no longer appeared downcast.

Early the next morning they worshiped before the Lord, and then returned to their home in Ramah. When Elkanah had relations with his wife Hannah, the Lord remembered her. She conceived, and at the end of her term bore a son whom she called Samuel, since she had asked the Lord for him. The next time her husband Elkanah was going up with the rest of his household to offer the customary sacrifice to the Lord and to fulfill his vows, Hannah did not go, explaining to her husband, “Once the child is weaned, I will take him to appear before the Lord and to remain there forever; I will offer him as a perpetual nazirite.” Her husband Elkanah answered her: “Do what you think best; wait until you have weaned him. Only, may the Lord bring your resolve to fulfillment!” And so she remained at home and nursed her son until she had weaned him. Once he was weaned, she brought him up with her, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour, and a skin of wine, and presented him at the temple of the Lord in Shiloh. After the boy’s father had sacrificed the young bull, Hannah, his mother, approached Eli and said: “Pardon, my lord! As you live my lord, I am the woman who stood near you here, praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child, and the Lord granted my request. Now I, in turn, give him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the Lord.” She left him there. (1Sam 1,9-28).

For a man, indeed, age is everything. He ignores that God is the one who makes us adults, knowing, wise, true, righteous, capable, and clever. It is not time that passes over our shoulders. Who is in God is wise from birth. Who is without God is a fool even at a thousand years. Foolishness does not become wisdom with years. God alone can take foolishness away from our hearts, by sending into them his Holy Spirit. Today the disciples do not want Jesus to be disturbed by children. These are not suitable for his kingdom. Jesus cannot waste his time behind them. He has to take care of the adults. These, yes, can make his kingdom. The adults are always adults, even if they are foolish, ignorant, dull of mind and heart, unable to think according to God, and to act according to his Word.

Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” After he placed his hands on them, he went away.

Jesus upturns the thought of man. It is just children who must go to Christ. The kingdom of God is of those who are like them: small, children, insignificant to the world. The perverse logic of the adults is reversed. If they want to be adults, they must become like children, small, insignificant. They have to become last.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels, and Saints make us last for the reign.