Discovery

Saturday, 1 July 2023

The pure in heart are happy because they will see God. Matthew 5.8 Word of Life Version

Discovery

She is seven years old and she can only read. Her mother says she is a Christian, but she does not read the Bible, although there is one at home. The little one really wants it. The book is huge. Luckily, there's a bookmark that advises, if it's a first read, to start at a certain place. She follows the advice. It enters the Gospel of Matthew, the first book of the New Testament.

She is a little perplexed by the long genealogy of Jesus. But she perseveres. She savors the story of the nativity : that, she knew a little. Wonder when she arrives at chapter 6 and reads the “Our Father” which she knows by heart. She is proud as if she had found a treasure.

But in chapter 5, she discovered Jesus' teaching on anger management, love of one's neighbour, true happiness... She tries to put all this into practice at school, in her relationships with her classmates. . She asks herself complicated questions : “Do we have the right to defend ourselves if we do not have to return evil for evil ?". Finally she asks to go to catechism to learn more. And this is how this little heart begins to journey towards God who wants to make it a “pure heart” through faith in Jesus who gave his life for it.

If you want to find out what Jesus himself says about children, read the recommended reading !

Sylvie Dugand

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Proposed reading : Gospel according to Mark chapter 10 verses 13 to 16.

10.13 People brought children to Jesus to touch them. But the disciples rebuke them.

10.14 Seeing this, Jesus became angry and said to his disciples : “Let the children come to me. Don't prevent them. Indeed, the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like children.

10.15 I tell you the truth : if anyone does not receive the Kingdom of God as a child, that person can never enter it."

10.16 Then Jesus kisses the children and blesses them by placing his hands on their heads.

Source (Live Today)