And a little child will lead them…”

An old woman stood by and supported herself at the small white coffin of her grandchild as it lay before the altar.  Speaking to no one in particular, but to all who have ears to hear she intoned a question quietly:  “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

No one spoke, no one needed to.  Gazing at the crucifix that dwarfed the coffin lid we knew that this child of God need not ask with the good thief, “Remember me…”  For hers is the kingdom of Jesus, the Christ, and she at one with Him, anointed to suffering for our salvation.  Hers too the kingdom of David, the last and the littlest of his brothers, a shepherd king.

And an old woman’s quiet question that filled the silence of the Church filled too the emptiness of hearts broken and bruised.  And in the mist of tears, the tears of this world’s weariness and woe, some glimpsed and knew around a small white coffin the kingdom of God where last are first, where least are greatest, and where once more a little child will lead us.

Fr. Eamon Devlin, C.M.

26th November 2007