Childish Lent

Ever thought of dismissing the speculations and apprehensions of a child as absurd? Then this Lenten season is an occasion to rethink this enigma. Christians seem to be indolent towards the fact that we continue to follow the God consciousness of a lad. In the Jewish context when even uttering the name of God was considered to be blasphemous, Jesus at the age of twelve at the temple called God as Abba (Father). Do not we foster the same God consciousness till date? Jesus once remarked “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children you will never enter the kingdom of God.” (St. Matthew 18:3). Have you ever wondered why does Jesus exhibit such profound love towards children?

Firstly, Christianity has to bear the brunt of a disturbing past. Bethlehem becomes a site of joy and grief at the same time. On the one hand the incarnation of God in Jesus and on the other hand the soil being drenched by the blood of infants. Yes, the birth of Jesus the Christ was at the expense of the murder of innumerable infants. That night was not silent (as we naively sing during Xmas) but filled with the laments of several mothers who had lost their children before their stream of milk went dry and also with the rage and helplessness of their fathers who could not even love them to their hearts’ content. Jesus might have been cursed by so many mothers and fathers for being the cause of their irrevocable grief. This brutal infant genocide might have made Jesus feel guilty and thus he displays great love towards children.

Secondly, Jesus understood that Children are the most neglected group in a society. The Church is in no way different. None bothers to ask the interests and consent of children for any programme rather they are treated as entertainers and the objects of passive obedience. Why do not we acknowledge the dignity of children? Children are not clowns just for the sake of amusing people rather they have their own unique individuality and independence which need to be duly respected.

Today, children are mostly considered to be the fulfillers of their parents’ wishes at the expense of sacrificing their own. The ads and movies try to reaffirm this fact and tend to glorify this concept. But remember the words of Kahlil Gibran in his book ‘The Prophet’,

Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of life’s longing for itself.

They come through you but not from you.

And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts; for they have their own thoughts.

You may house their bodies but not their souls; for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow which you cannot visit not even in your dreams.

You may strive to be like them but strive not to make them like you; for life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth. The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite and He bends you with his might that His arrows may go swift and far.

Let your bending in the Archer’s hand be for gladness; for even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable.

We always ask our children what do they want to become when they grow up? The question itself makes it blatantly evident that we do not consider childhood worthy to do anything substantial. Jesus’ statement challenges this prejudice of ours. He not only acknowledges the dignity of childhood but also makes it subversive by equating childhood as a prerequisite to experience the reign of God. Next time do not ask your children what they want to become when they grow up rather ask them what do they want to do now? Have a look at this video.  

If Jesus could develop a firm God consciousness at the tender age of twelve why cannot our children of today do the same? One of the reasons that I infer is the absence of – if I may use a common metaphorical expression – ‘Bedtime stories’. The God consciousness developed by Jesus would inevitably be the result of Mother Mary’s bedtime stories concerning life, God, scriptures, the pain of reality, the transience of illusions, the power of dreams, the beauty of relationships and many more.

Never undermine the efficacy of stories. Stories have a great impact in one’s life and all the more in the lives of children. Eliezer Wiesel an American novelist, writes, “God made man because He loves stories.” I could personally corroborate this statement. The ‘bedtime stories’ told by my parents have been the rudiments of my spirituality, religiosity and theology. Seminary has just refined them.

Let this lent be childish. This Lenten season let us reclaim the essence of those ‘bedtime stories’. Through these stories may our children develop a proper consciousness of God and life. Do not teach our children how to live rather be open to accept their diverse idiosyncrasies but never ever forget to teach them what is life and its sanctity. Parents are in the illusion that they teach their children. Angela Schwindt comments, “While we teach our children all about life our children teach us what life is all about.” 

I conclude with a story which portrays a reversal of roles.

This painting by Bartolome Esteban Murillo depicts a scene from a Roman legend that tells how a prisoner was condemned to death by starvation and thirst. The man was thrown into a dungeon by the Roman prefect in Ghent. Only his daughter was allowed to visit him. But she was not allowed to take any food or drink to her father. Daughter was an adult. The father remained alive still after six months. Apparently the daughter had just become a mother; in attempt to save her father’s life she breastfed him daily with her milk. It is said that prefect was so moved by the incident that he released the man free.

Each parent is a child and each child is a parent.

Let us pray

God of Children, may we not be so naïve to overlook the subtlety of our children and the subversiveness of childhood. May we teach and learn from them the worth and sanctity of God and life. For Christ’s sake we pray. Amen

Prayers

Dn. Basil Paul