Isn’t it a shame that pastors have the option of omitting the last portion of this Gospel – the part about the children. I hope they don’t exercise that option especially after Pope Francis’ many displays of affection and regard for children.
In this Gospel the people were bringing their children to Jesus, much like they do today to Pope Francis. It is the children (urged on by their parents) who can manage to break through security the lines, past the preoccupied patrols and approach Pope Francis. But the disciples just don’t get it. Jesus has summed up the lesson pointing out the value and importance of these “little ones” in the Kingdom of God. Jesus offers the children as an example of the kind of complete trust and dependence upon God that ought to be the attitude of all believers.
There is a subtle pressure in church and society to remain a dependent child. Who is it (in life) that truly challenges you to liberate yourselves from immature dependencies to acceptance of the burdens of a responsible adults?
How can we heed Jesus’ injunction to accept the kingdom of God like a child? Or risk never entering it? What does it mean to be childlike, and not childish? What qualities is Jesus asking us to hang on to in order to enter the kingdom not only beyond the “pearly gates” but right here on earth, in our community, where God’s kingdom exists?
A few qualities I think he might encourage would be:
- Live Spontaneously – taking in every moment and the opportunities in unplanned instants.
- How about never letting a lack of qualifications deter you –If you’ve never done something before, be fearless like a child who pulls out a kitchen drawer to scramble up to the cabinet to get the peanut butter. Isn’t this how Olympic gymnasts start?
- Kids Know Exercise Can Be Fun –It’s just a matter of finding an active, healthy activity we actually enjoy doing.
- Keep an Open Mind – Keep a childlike wide open mind and you’ll learn something new every day – maybe more than one thing. Don’t let force of habit slow you down. Ask questions: you’ll never get an answer if you never ask. So, she might say NO – but did you give her a chance to say YES?
- Express your feelings – nurture and value relationships – Open, honest, direct face-to-face expression of feelings makes communication easier, maintains sincerity and integrity in your life. Children like nothing better than to “hang out” with their friends. Do you look forward to unstructured time with community members – your “sisters?”
- Use Your Imagination – Robert Kennedy got credit, but Walt Disney said it first:: If you can dream it, you can do it! If you have a creative idea, share it. If it’s faster, smarter or better and see what happens. You’ll never know unless you try.
- Learn by Imitation – have you ever seen a little boy walking behind this father, trying determinately to imitate his father’ stride? Or the little girl “clack-clacking” in her Mom’s high heel shoes. St. Benedict was a firm believer in the axiom: “fake it til you make it.” Live monastic traits until they become part of you.
- Play – Sometimes it’s healthy to fool around and engage in recreation for the sole purpose of having fun.
Paul in his letter to the Corinthians says: When I was a child I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became an adult, I put away with childish things. Jesus will applaud you saying: Yes, put away child-ish ways but hang on to the delightful child-like traits that are the keys to the kingdom.
~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB
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