Memorial of Saint Benedict, Abbot
Today the Lord gives us words to live by that prevent us from falling into extremes: “Be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.” Jesus is always calling his disciples to be like children. But to be childlike does not mean to be naïve. He also calls us to a shrewdness that looks and judges the world with a wisdom and realism that do not devolve into pessimism. The joy of children, the joy of the Gospel must prevail.