At that time the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea.” 

Charlie began his freshman year of high school in this session of the movie "The Perks of Being a Wallflower." He had already experienced some difficulties in his early life, and then he had to turn to high school living with all of its special problems. As a shy person, completely uneducated in the ways of the world, Charlie felt totally out of place as he tried to be part of his high school. Luckily, discovering some seniors who accepted him into their group, Charlie was able to feel better as he began to grow. His senior friends taught him much about the ins and outs of the school, some of which were not good for him, but more importantly they helped him learn more about his own personality.

The year of freshman in high school especially if it is a four-year high school may rank as one of the most difficult years in our lives. It is filled with uncertainty and wonder about how well we are adjusting. One of those feelings deals with whether other people like us or not, whether we are accepted, or whether we fit in or not. We honestly feel like a wallflower, someone who is simply "there," but not interacting at all. At one point of the movie "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," author and director Stephen Chbosky places Charlie literally as one "with the wall" at a dance. It could be a good image of what it feels like to be a freshman.

Jesus never spoke about freshmen in high school, of course, nor did he ever speak of teenagers as such. But he did speak about young people or "children" a number of times during his time with us. He always spoke of them with respect, even urging his followers to imitate the young person's virtue of "humility." Part of his respect for them included the exaggerated thought that if anyone hurt them in any way, they should be put to death.

Whatever the feeling of "humility" might mean, no doubt Charlie felt it in the movie. One of the greatest needs of a young person as he/she grows into a young adult is the need to be part of a group, even if the group itself might be "off center" in one way or another. Charlie found himself in such a group in high school. They were seniors who had their own particular problems, but they were able to make Charlie feel welcome in what he had originally felt was a very "unwelcome" setting.

The respect that Jesus had for young people in the Gospels is an example for today's world. If a person is young and involved in the world of "growing up," such a person will need help. Young people will improve their lives when they understand that fact and search for that help as Charlie did. At the same time, those people who have advanced through high school and into their adult lives must be aware of the young people who constantly need the help of concerned adults.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, your Son knew the importance of young people. He loved them for who they were, and for what they could teach us. Help us imitate the "humility" of a child, and at the same time manage to respect those younger than ourselves. Be with us, we pray. 

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©2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America