Fr. Chris - Fourth Sunday of Easter - Homily

“The Child Inside Our Hearts”
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“See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are!” What a marvellous thing to hear, the very words of St. Paul himself who was chosen by Christ himself to spread his gospel. We almost have the uncanny sense that, over these hundreds of years, he is actually speaking directly to us, to you and to me!   
 
But do we truly acknowledge that we are children of God? Do we see and listen to the child inside our hearts, we who are his most beloved creation? Do we honestly trust that this loving Father, who is above all fathers, is really taking care of us, because some might have doubts, especially during this difficult time of Covid.
 
Perhaps because I am unable to visit the children in our school, limited only to virtual visits, and a brief, but thoroughly entertaining and endearing meeting with them during their First Reconciliation, I have been doing a bit of research into the fine art of working with children, and a fine art and skill it is!  
 
In my research, I enjoyed a video by ‘Ms. Carol’ who works for the Acorn Hill Waldorff Kindergarten & Nursery School in Maryland, USA, which is “part of a world-wide education movement of over 800 schools whose work is based on the insights of Rudolf Steiner, an [early 20th C] Austrian philosopher, artist, scientist and [Christian] educator,” (acornhill.org). “Receive the child with reverence, educate the child with love, and let the child go forth in freedom,” was his aim.
 
Ms. Carol discusses this fine art of working with children in her YouTube video called, Gentle Approaches to Teaching Children How to Listen. It is interesting to note the first thing we want to learn is ‘to listen’ ourselves, listen to the child with full, sincere attention. What they have to say is always important. It teaches us many things about them, and certainly earns their trust and confidence in us. No commentary or spoken response is necessary. Just listen. If they are troubled, guide them to a place where they can learn how to cope with their emotions away from others. A hug and a gentle song is often all they need to calm themselves. Even offering a drink of water helps them find their breath again between sobs.
 
Something which stood out is our children thrive on schedules: daily, weekly, and monthly. It helps them learn to organize themselves, know what to anticipate, even give them a sense of calm and safety. They learn how structuring their lives helps them be more productive and satisfied, content, cheerful, and at peace.  
 
Are adults not much the same? Are we not just big-little children in many ways? We have our schedules, our routines, and though these rituals can sometimes smother our spontaneity or become monotonous, they also motivate us, giving us a sense of regularity, productiveness, and often even peace and contentment.
 
However, like all children, we, too, experience trouble in life. Our structured lives can be suddenly interrupted by the unexpected like Covid has interrupted the routines of an entire planet. Our small world is having a difficult time finding that place away from everyone else to cope, to work things out. But isn’t God waiting there to embrace us? To sing a gentle song in our hearts if we only listen?
 
This is why meditative and contemplative prayer is so important in our lives. This is where the ‘place’ is! This is where God cradles us in his arms. If we listen quietly in prayer, we will hear the Shepherd’s soothing lullaby of peace come down on us.  
 
Remember: “Beloved, we are God’s children now!” We are not just children in the heart of our hearts, we are now children of God, of a Father who truly is looking out for us, watching over his flock in the classroom of life, though perhaps in ways we cannot understand. This is why we need faith, have faith, nurture faith, trust in God.
 
Let us embrace these words of St. Paul, and live our lives with attentiveness and kindness to that child in our hearts, and love for the child in each one of us.
 
“Jesus, see your children gathering around you again. Good Shepherd, come and embrace us for many of us are troubled. Hear and listen to us with your caring, rapt attention, the Good Shepherd who helps us cope with our anger, bitterness, fear and worries. We need you now, perhaps more than ever before. …
 
For just as the psalmist sang, ‘You are our God, and we give you great thanks and praise, for you are good, and your steadfast love for your children endures forever’.  
   
– Rev Fr Christopher Tracey, Saint Joseph Parish, Saugeen Shores, Ontario ​