There are many beautiful references to children throughout Scripture. However, sitting at daily Mass on Friday and hearing the Gospel of the multiplication of the loaves and the fishes I realized this indeed is another story in Scripture that underscores the beautify and importance of children.
“There is a young boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are they among so many?” (John 6:9)
How beautiful is this Scripture verse. We know that at least 5 thousand men were gathered from the Gospel of Mark 6:44, Luke 9:14 and John 9:10. This is not counting women or children. Our Lord asks Philip how they will buy enough to feed them all and then it says, “this He said to test him for He himself knew what He would do” (John 6:6).
Out of the multitude of people, only one person is found to have food. There could be several explanations for this fact. The first is that truly this boy was the only one among 5 thousand who had any food that was found. The second is that the young boy is the only one who was willing to give the food he had. In either case, it is surely is an important piece to the story. Even if the former were true and he was the only one with food it shows a wonderful trust and generosity to give that which is so precious and needed. Such a gift underscores the beauty of a child’s soul. The openness and trust that children have and their willingness to help others. To see that a child, who falls within a group not even counted among the estimates of those present at the event, supplied the bread and fish that Our Lord would use to feed thousands speaks beautifully to the ways Our Lord works through the small and humble ones.
Indeed it would seem that children’s role in the Church and meeting the needs of so many is crucial. In a time when churches are closing and prayer seems to be far from many, might our children be the ones to come to our aid, willing to give all they have. Many might ask what do children have to give? One of the precious things they have is love and their prayers that in a special way touch the heart of Jesus.
It is my hope that many will consider unifying prayers with our children when they meet in different Children’s Rosary groups across the world. Further if your parish does not have a Children’s Rosary group, I pray that you will prayerfully consider beginning one. Our little children have so much to give but they need an invitation or a person who asks for their help just as the disciples did when they asked the boy for his bread and fish. Thank you all and if I may be of any service to anyone feeling drawn to help this cause or begin a group please feel free to contact me.
Your humble servant,
Blythe
blythe.kaufman@gmail.com
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