Today’s readings are relevant and on point to a video that was posted by a mother this past Tuesday wherein it showed her 9 year old son, Quaden Bayles, crying in the back of the car saying to the camera “Give me a knife, I want to kill myself." This video has been viewed 16 million times since being posted and has garnered over $200,000.00 when comedian Brad Williams set up a Go-Fund Me Page to send to Quaden and his mother. Williams said: “This isn't just for Quaden, this is for anyone who has been bullied in their lives and told they weren't good enough...let’s show Quaden and others that there is good in the world and they are worthy of it." Many other celebrities around the world have stepped up to support Quaden and to bring awareness that bullying must stop.
Second Reading:
“There is no room for self-delusion. Any one of you who thinks he is wise by worldly standards must learn to be a fool in order to be really wise.”—First Corinthians 3: 18
Gospel:
“But I say this to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you...”—Matthew 5:44
How many times do we see in our own lives acts of bullying stemming from those that are self-delusional in thinking that the material wealth they possess somehow equates to providing them with worldly wisdom. The gospel hammers home the message that we should pray for those who persecute you. In other words, Quaden must know that the bullies do what they do because they themselves are hurting inside and the only way to cope with their own personal struggles is to lash out to others that have zero to do with their deep rooted issues.
You empower the weak bullies by giving them attention. Forgive them and completely walk away knowing that they are the ones that require the most prayer to heal what ever may be broken inside of them.
Quaden stand tall in pride sport and know that you mean so much to your family, to the world, and that you have an amazing future ahead of you.
This week do not let others bring you down. Instead pray for the broken.Edgar J. Guzman