St Paul seems to suggest
that we are parenting all wrong.
Children should be
just like servants!
Excellent!
Set your toddler to work
grouting the bathroom.
You! Five year old!
Do the taxes!
Newborns should
be cleaning behind
the sink unit
with their tiny, tiny hands.
Or perhaps that's not
what St Paul means.
[PAUSE]
St Paul's point is
that children
are not in a position
to be given authority
over their own lives
for the simple reason
that they are unaware
of the perils and difficulties
of being grown up.
To be fair,
many grownups
are unaware
of the perils and difficulties
of being grown up.
We have to learn to function
and live good lives
with other people.
We can't take what we want,
and we need to know why.
A toddler is not capable
of understanding this fully,
which is why
the chocolate aisle at Morrisons
is littered with screaming children.
We can't do what we want.
We can't snatch something
from someone else.
We can't hit those
who upset us.
Children need to learn.
This means
that they cannot take
control of their lives.
Just like servants.
[PAUSE]
The servant's job
is to do as told
in order for the house
to function.
A servant may not
be in a position
to understand what
their employer is trying to do
but must trust that
fulfilling the given orders well
will result in
the best outcome for everyone.
Of course,
this depends on
the trustworthiness
of employers.
But a child's life
depends on
the trustworthiness
of the parents.
[PAUSE]
In being born,
Our Lord puts Himself
at the mercy
of Mary and Joseph.
It is at Mary's knee
that Jesus will learn
about God and
the Covenant God has made
with the people of Israel.
She will teach Him
why the rituals are performed,
why some foods
are not to be eaten,
and what the commandments are.
But Jesus is God.
He knows all these things,
doesn't He?
[PAUSE]
Our Lord chose to be born.
He chose to be a child
in full knowledge
that the lives of children
are subject to the will
of their parents.
So He allows Himself
to be taught,
but, in Mary,
He has the best teacher.
His Divine nature
prevents Him from error
but He grows in wisdom
and stature under
the loving kindness
of His Holy Family.
He is our example
of humility
by being obedient
to our Human nature
as part of His Divine nature.
The King of Kings is
obedient to us as a servant
so that we might be
obedient to Him
as children
so that,
one day,
we might be fully grown
into His Divinity
and live as true adults
in Heaven.
To be childlike
is to accept humility
and limitation
so that we might
live like stars for Eternity.
[PAUSE]
As good parents
we discipline our children
so that they learn
to live well
and grow in virtue and wisdom.
They may not like it at times,
but then do we always enjoy
being obedient to God?
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