Ezekiel 18:1-10, 13, 30-32 / Matthew 19:13-15
Whenever something goes wrong, the reaction will most likely be to find out who is at fault.
It is the human tendency to find that someone to blame for whatever went wrong.
Or, it may even go to the extent of making a scapegoat out of someone, and letting the others go unpunished.
In the 1st reading, the Lord God through the prophet Ezekiel questioned that proverb “The fathers have eaten unripe grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.”
The Lord God refuted that proverb and He says that the man who has sinned is the one who shall be punished.
Nonetheless there is no doubt that it is the parent’s responsibility for the moral upbringing of the child.
But when the child comes of age, then there also must be personal responsibility and accountability.
In the gospel, Jesus says that the kingdom of God belongs to the little children.
Parents need to know that in their little children lies the kingdom of God.
The best gift from parents to their children is to bless them and pray with them.
With that their children will grow in wisdom and grace and bear fruits of love for God and neighbour.