October 6, 2024 Virtually Sunday Reflection

Summary

Tony Pickler, Mission Outreach Director at Resurrection Parish in Green Bay, reflects on a recent experience where children engaged with him in playful, innocent fun during a whiffle ball game. He draws parallels between this and the upcoming Gospel reading, contrasting the harsh treatment of women and children in biblical times with the caring and loving approach of Jesus. Tony emphasizes the need for a compassionate and appropriate relationship with children, guided by their loved ones rather than religious leaders, especially in a post-sexual abuse scandal era. He leaves readers with questions about how to achieve this ideal in today's world.

Takeaways

• 😀 Tony Pickler introduces himself as the Mission Outreach Director for Resurrection Parish in Green Bay.
• ⚾ A whiffle ball game took place between Sunday masses, where kids interacted with Tony and used him as a 'human tree' to do pull-ups, with their parents watching.
• 📖 The upcoming Gospel reading contrasts two scenes: religious leaders questioning Jesus about divorce and children seeking His blessing.
• 👩‍👧‍👦 Tony highlights the historical view of women and children as property or lesser beings in society, contrasting it with the equality of creation described in Genesis.
• 🙏 The Genesis reading speaks about humans being created in the image of God, emphasizing equality and respect in relationships.
• 🤔 Tony reflects on how the sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church has changed the way people interpret the idea of embracing and blessing children.
• 🧠 He acknowledges that there are more questions than answers regarding how to restore right relationships with children in the current climate.
• 🖋 James Baldwin is quoted to emphasize the global responsibility we have toward all children, regardless of background.
• 👨‍👩‍👦 Tony suggests that those closest to children, like parents and guardians, should set the example for appropriate, loving relationships rather than religious leaders.
• 💭 He concludes with a reflection on how we must strive to live with compassion and care, especially for children, in the wake of past church scandals, offering questions rather than answers.

Q & A

What activity did Tony Pickler describe happening between Sunday masses at Resurrection Parish?

Tony Pickler described a whiffle ball game that broke out between the 8:30 and 10:30 masses in the yard of Resurrection Parish.

What did a brother and sister ask Tony Pickler to do during the whiffle ball game?

They asked Tony Pickler to put his arms out like a tree and allow them to climb on him and do pull-ups on his arms.

How does Tony Pickler relate the whiffle ball game to the upcoming Gospel reading?

He relates it by reflecting on how Jesus welcomed and blessed children, showing care and love, similar to how he himself tried to be caring and appropriate with the children during the game.

What two contrasting attitudes towards people does Tony Pickler mention from the Gospel reading?

Tony mentions the religious leaders asking Jesus about divorce, viewing women as property, and the disciples preventing children from coming to Jesus, both treating people as objects rather than valuable beings.

What message does the first reading from Genesis convey, according to Tony Pickler?

The first reading from Genesis conveys the idea that people are created to live in relationship as equals, valued and made in the image and likeness of God.

Why does Tony Pickler express discomfort with the Gospel passage about Jesus blessing children?

Tony Pickler feels discomfort due to the context of the post-sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church, making it harder to interpret Jesus' embrace of children in the same way as before.

What quote does Tony Pickler reference from James Baldwin, and how does it relate to the theme?

Tony references Baldwin's quote, 'The children are always ours, every single one of them, all over the globe,' suggesting that the inability to recognize this may indicate a lack of morality. This emphasizes the universal responsibility to care for children.

What does Tony Pickler suggest as a way forward for understanding how to love children appropriately?

He suggests that the lead should come from parents, grandparents, and those who love children rather than from Church authorities like the Pope, Bishops, or priests.

How does Tony Pickler connect his personal experience with the children at Resurrection Parish to the Gospel’s message?

He connects it by reflecting on how he was trying to be caring and appropriate with the children during the whiffle ball game, just as Jesus was caring for and blessing children in the Gospel.

What overarching theme does Tony Pickler leave the audience with at the end of his reflection?

Tony leaves the audience with the idea that while he doesn’t have all the answers, asking questions about how to love and care for others, especially children, may lead to the answers we need.