Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Saturday of the 7th week in Ordinary Time, March 1, 2025

Delivered by Father Peter Tukan, SDB from Salesian Don Bosco Gerak in the Diocese of Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. Sirach 17: 1-15; Rs psalm 103: 13-14.15-16.17-18a; Mark 10: 13-16PRAYER AND SUPPORT FOR THE YOUNGER GENERATION Our meditation today has the theme: Prayer and Supportfor the Young Generation. Here we refer to the young generation with theintention of covering all young groups, namely from infants, children,adolescents, and youth. Everywhere, this generation is seen as an element ofsociety and the Church that is not only to be proud of but also underestimated.A simple example, a child who is born is a gift fromGod to be proud of from the parents. But for the sake of work and livelihood,children are often abandoned. Youth in a local parish is often praised for thespirit of their involvement, but often their voices are not heard, and there isa lack of financial support by the Church for their activities. However, the segment of the younger generation cannotbe underestimated. Their energy is very strong. Even if this is viewed from apolitical perspective, their segment of the society is indispensable to supportthe electoral elections of both parliament and the president and regional leaders.The Lord Jesus asks our attention to the energy of the younger generation, ormore specifically children and young people to be esteemed and are useful tosupport life in general. Jesus accepted and blessed them. Jesus also set them amodel for the achievement and possession of God's kingdom. The Lord describesthe kingdom of God to little children. Why? They are generally underestimated,unconsidered, and who do not have access to many opportunities. But God choosesto be small, to be lowest, even to be persecuted. He identifies Himself to belittle children. He always says that the smallest is the biggest. This is part of the way of self-denial exemplified byJesus Christ. All of us who follow Him, are required to live out the type ofself-denial, so that we may be safe and obtain a place in the kingdom of God. Tobe a concrete action, we must always give a special place to the youngergeneration. The special place is that they are always a priority to be prayedfor and supported.  God puts Himself intheir side that means to draw our attention to them. The fragile, labil, sick and poor young generationattracts our attention. Likewise, the young generation who are talented,healthy, eager to learn, and have achievements, certainly do not escape ourattention. They must of course be supported and prayed for, so that their verystrong energy will ultimately be useful for the betterment of living together,rather than as a potential that is used to the detriment of themselves andothers.Let us pray. In the name of the Father... O God, may theyoung generation at every level of life always follow the path of Jesus Christ,our Master and Saviour. Hail Mary full of grace ... In the name of theFather...