Too often parents neglect reading to their children from the Bible. Whether they think the children will not be interested, or they don’t feel comfortable reading the Sacred Scriptures to their children, parents underutilize the Bible.
Actually, children are quite interested in hearing the Word of God. But parents should be careful in the selections they choose. While Genesis and Exodus are interesting to young, the Prophets usually are not. In the New Testament, the Four Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles are well received. While the Epistles do not normally hold their attention, the Book of Revelation fascinates children.
As Vatican II tells us in Chapter VI of the magnificent document Dei Verbum (Word of God): “In the sacred books the Father who is in heaven comes lovingly to meet his children, and talks to them.” What could therefore be better than reading the Bible to children?
Within the Four Gospels, the miracle accounts fascinate and instruct children. Realizing this, the exemplary author/illustrator Tomie dePaola has created a book retelling 12 of these miraculous events. He has entitled it “The Miracles of Jesus.”
The first miracle detailed is The Wedding Feast of Cana. Here some important points about Our Lord’s ministry and the future life are the church can be seen.
Jesus and His disciples are celebrating marriage as a joyous event. Being divine, Our Lord knows the wine is running short. But instead of immediately performing a miracle, He waits for His mother to tell Him: “They have no wine.” While no one knows the exact reason for this, it seems plausible to me that Our Lord is giving an intercessory role to His mother. When people need something, He knows that people naturally turn to their mother. Since this is a good thing, Jesus waits until Mary asks.
Then the Blessed Mother gives us the wisest words ever spoken: “Do whatever He tells you.” After this brief but wonderful exchange, Jesus changes the water into wine.
In the 11 miracles that follow, dePaola takes us to some of the most important and powerful events in the life of Our Lord. One of these miracles has become part of the Mass. The words of which miracle are used each day at the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God) part of the Mass? At which miracle does Jesus tell us that He is “the Resurrection and the Life?” How many times does Our Lord tell the people to “have faith?”
To find out the answers to these questions, go to the library, or buy a copy of “The Miracles of Jesus” by Tomie dePaola at the bookstore.
Tomie dePaola is one of the most accomplished, genuine, and loving author/illustrators in the field of children’s literature. His drawings are not complicated and are warm and inviting.
Children are naturally drawn to the books of this remarkable man. He has frequently written and drawn religious books. His books “Mary: The Mother of God,” and “The Virgin of Guadalupe” are beautiful tributes to Our Lady.
By combining his talent in writing and art with the majestic miracle accounts of Our Divine Savior, Tomie dePaola has invited children into a conversation with their “Father who is in heaven coming lovingly to meet his children, and talk to them.”
