Become Like Children

   Children were often a part of Jesus’ ministry.  Parents brought their children to Him for them to receive His blessing.  When the disciples tried to stop them Jesus chastised them saying, “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child, will not enter it. “Mark 10: 14-15).

   I have no doubt that the children were an example of the kind of faith that we must have if we are to enter God’s kingdom.  We need to become child-like in our relationship with God.  He is our Father, the Father of all who believe in Him.  We must approach Him in the manner of a child coming to their father.  We must have the trust in God that most small children have in their earthly father and mother.

   Have you ever seen a child on the edge of a swimming pool with Mom or Dad urging them to jump into the water?  They hold out their arms to the child saying, “Jump, I’ll catch you.”  While the child may be hesitant at first, they will almost always decide to trust in their parent and make the jump.  This is the trust Jesus is talking about when He talks of becoming like children.

   After Mass a few years ago I watched as two sisters, about two or three years in age, ran toward the priest.  He held out his arms and they both jumped from about three feet away.  The priest grabbed them up one in each arm.  The joy on the faces of those girls and on the priest is the joy I imagine when we leap into God’s arms with absolute trust and faith that He will never drop us.

   St. John wrote “But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God.” (John 1: 12-13).  This is who we are; the children of God.  As such we need to have child-like faith in Him.  In His love and mercy God will never abandon of forsake us if we trust in Him as our Father.

   “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.” (Matt: 18: 2-4)