[Editor's Note: This article is the second in a series on the theme, “Why Did Jesus Come as One of Us?” Click here to read the first article.]
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
But to those who did accept him, he gave power to become children of God. (John 1:12)
In my previous article, I used a fairly popular Christmas story to address the question: “Why did God choose to come as a little baby, as one of us, and then die on a cross to save the human race?” During this grace-filled season, as we approach the celebration of the Epiphany and the Baptism of the Lord, I want once again to encourage you to prayerfully reflect on this question. In this article, I try to answer this question through a “Children’s Parable” I wrote several years ago.
If you have young children or grandchildren (or nephews and nieces), this would be a nice story to read to them. After reading the story, spend some time with them discussing the message it is trying to communicate. This can be a very important time, since it provides an opportunity for them to share their thoughts on the parable and the Christian truths it represents. It’s a time for asking open-ended questions and for great sensitivity to where each child is on his or her walk of faith. To aid you in this, I have also included some discussion questions at the end of the article. (Note: You may have to adapt the parable and questions a little, depending on the age of the children.)
May God richly bless you and your family in 2006.
Happy New Year,
Maurice Blumberg
Executive Director
National Fellowship of Catholic Men
A Children’s Parable, The Ant Farm
Story: There once was a very rich, powerful, and kindly king who had a wonderful son whom he loved dearly. For his birthday one year, the king decided to make his son an ant farm. It was an awesome ant farm filled with beautiful white sand, the finest of ants, and all the resources needed for a healthy environment. The son was very pleased with the ant farm and took very good care of it and the ants. But as the ant farm thrived and the ants multiplied, the ants soon began to fight with one another, and the farm became overcrowded and polluted.
The father and son decided that they would bring the ant farm into their beautiful mansion and allow the ants to live in the father’s kingdom. So the father built a little door in the side of the ant farm and opened it so the ants could leave the gradually decaying farm. However, for some reason the ants were not able to discover the door so they could leave the ant farm. The son, no matter how hard he tried to get their attention so he could lead them to the door, was not able to do so. This saddened the son because he loved the ants very much, and he knew the door was the ants’ only hope of survival.
Finally, the father said to the son, “Son, the only way the ants will find the door is for me to turn you into an ant so you can lead them through it to safety in our kingdom. However, I must warn you that even after you become an ant, many of them will refuse to allow you to lead them. They will not believe you are trying to rescue them. In fact, many of them will get so angry with you that they will kill you. Are you willing to become an ant and lead them to safety in my kingdom, knowing you will have to die to save these ants?”
The son without a moment’s thought said yes. He became an ant and began to lead the ants to the door. But just as the father had said, the ants who refused to go through the door killed him. However, the father restored him to life as his son again, and the ants who went through the door with him lived happily ever after in his father’s kingdom.
Message: Jesus, God’s beloved Son, out of His great love for us, became a human being so He could rescue us from sin and death, and eternal separation from His Father and Him. As a man, He revealed His personal love and care for us, by suffering and dying on the cross for our sins, so we could spend all eternity with Him in the Kingdom of God. Jesus’ willingness to be born as a baby and become a man was a wonderful act of love, for the difference between God and us is far greater than the difference between a human and an ant. And now He wants us to love Him in return.
(This article by Maurice Blumberg was part of the Advent 2001 Catholic Men’s E-zine. which is available on the NFCM website. You may e-mail them at info@nfcmusa.org.)
Reflection Questions on Page 2
Discussion Questions for Children’s Parable
1. If you were the king’s son in the story, would you have said “yes” and become an ant? Why? Why not?
2. Why do you think the son was willing to become an ant and even die to save his ants?
3. Why do you think some of the ants refused to believe that the son, after becoming an ant, really wanted to lead them to safety in his father’s kingdom?
4. Jesus loved us so much that He was willing to become a human being like us and die on the cross for our sins, so we could be with Him in Heaven (his Father’s kingdom) for all eternity. Because of His wonderful love for us and what He was willing to do to show us His love, are you willing to love Him in return, accept Him as your Lord and Savior, and follow Him?
