Do you have the same dependence, humility and honesty that children have? - Daily Reflections August 17,2013

LEARNING FROM THE CHILDREN

OF THE KINGDOM

 

“Children are children,” we say whenever we see children acting childishly. We also went through childhood and so it is not hard to understand children. We had our own foolishness, stupidity, clumsiness, etc. The Apostles reacted normally when they scolded those who brought the children to Jesus so He may lay hands on them. They thought Jesus would not approve of it.

       “Let them be! Do not stop the children from coming to me, for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to people such as these!” I am sure it was a strong statement as far as the Apostles were concerned. I am sure the same goes for everyone who heard Jesus. Maybe they wished they were still children or could go back to being children. But they need not be so to be favored by Jesus.

       Jesus is talking about children’s humility, dependence and honesty in general. Children know that they cannot live without their parents. They are humble enough to admit that they need help and guidance. They are also usually truthful. If you want to know the truth about things, children are usually the best source. For these, the Kingdom belongs to them. If they are these to their parents, they must be the same with God who is their Father and Lord. Thus, it follows that if adults would adopt those qualities, to be childlike, then to them would also belong the Kingdom.

       Faith is precisely about that: dependence, humility and honesty. Of course, these are not the only things we need. But Jesus already qualifies us through these attitudes because other attitudes flow from these basic ones. As a last note, I admire children’s capacity to forgive totally. They embody the true and real meaning of “shalom” or peace. We see them quarrel intensely over toys or other things, but later, we see them together playing again as if nothing happened. They do not harbor ill feelings as most adults do. When they say “peace” to each other, they really mean it. No wonder Jesus easily gives the Kingdom to them! Fr. Benny Tuazon

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Do you have the same dependence, humility and honesty that children have?

 

Lord Jesus, give me the heart of a child so that I may be totally dependent on You again, humble enough to know that I need You, and honest in every way.