Spiritual Corner - The Little Vanguard of Evangelization

In Mark 10:13-16:” They brought to him young children, that he might touch them. And the disciples rebuked them that brought them. When Jesus saw this, he was much displeased, and said to them. Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not; for of such is the kingdom of God. Amen I say to you, whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, shall not enter into it. And embracing them, and laying his hands upon them, he blessed them.”

During the Christmas season 2022, the Youth Pastoral Team raised funds for their participation in the World Youth Day by selling hand-made Christmas cards. Incidentally, there was the admission ceremony of RCIA on December 10, and a catechist from the new Mandarin class came with her 7-year-old son to attend the liturgy. In order to allow the mother to attentively participate in the admission ceremony, I kept the young boy by my side. I also suggested him to buy a Christmas card after mass as a gift for his mother’s admission, and as support for the
big brothers and sisters in their participation in the World Youth Day. It happened that the mother had not brought with her any money, but she promised to come back in the afternoon to buy the Christmas cards. At about 2:00 p.m., the catechist returned to church with her son as well as some of his friends from the ice-skating class. The boy immediately brought his classmates into the church, and at the entrance, taught them to put their palms together and genuflect to Jesus who is in the tabernacle. The catechist sister shared with me the incident afterwards. Then I said to her, “Your son had attended the RCIC class for only once and then did not come again, but now, through buying the Christmas cards, evangelized to his friends. He is such a wonderful little evangelist.”

Actually, this catechist sister and her son are now in our RCIA and RCIC classes, and they are not baptized yet. They have attended class for only half a year but already know how to share God’s good news with others in action, and shall soon be our vanguards! This real story teaches us not to underestimate children. They observe everything, keep them in their mind and then emulate what they see. This also reminds us, adults, to practice what we preach. Thank you God! Let us continue to pray for the mother and the child.

Sr. Thomas Lo