Saturday, August 18, 2018
19th Week in
Ordinary Time
1st Reading: Ezk 18:1-10, 13b, 30-32 Gospel:
Matthew 19:13-15
Little children were brought to Jesus that he might lay his hands on them with a prayer. But the disciples scolded those who brought them. Jesus then said, “Let them be! Do not stop the children from coming to me, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to people such as these.” So Jesus laid his hands on them and went his way.
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in the Assimilated Life Experience)
Children are God’s way of saying He is not tired of us. But it seems we are getting tired of children. In the past families are as large as six to twelve children. Nowadays a family of three children is already considered too large a family. Birth rate has dramatically decreased not just in the Philippines but also in the whole world. “Citing the National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) conducted by the Philippine Statistics Autho-rity, the PopCom said the fertility rate of Filipino women in 2017 was at a statistical average of 2.7 children, compared to the 3.0 children statistical average in 2013” (Inquirer.net, Feb. 24, 2018).
The power to procreate human beings is a gift given only to humans. Yet humans are becoming reluctant partners and co-workers of God in this endeavor. Women insist that they have the right to decide whether or not to allow a baby into their womb even as they live promiscuous lives. Society has taken advantage of the situation by doing business. To women who want children but refuse to carry babies in their wombs, business offers in-vitro fertilization. To women who do not want children at all they offer a complete line of contraceptives. We have made a mockery of God’s gift of procreation.
This is a selfish generation. In utter disregard of the next generation, the present society limits new entrants through immoral population manipulation. The adverse effect is already felt in other countries. In Japan, people are retiring late because there are fewer young people to take their place. In some countries, governments are dangling incentives to couples to encourage them to procreate. There are very few takers because contraception has already taken control of their paradigms. Once contraceptive mentality becomes well defined, no incentives can reverse the paradigm of people overnight. A major paradigm shift is required, and this could take centuries.
Children are not just God’s way of saying He is not tired of humanity. It is also human being’s unselfish way of assuring God that he is still His dedicated partner in the work of creation. – (Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., D.M. Email: [email protected].
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