Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Reflection: Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14



Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14 (20th Week of Ordinary Time)

In today’s Gospel, Jesus calls a child forth in response to the disciples’ question: “Who is the greatest in the kingdom?”  As he often does, Jesus does not respond directly to their question.  Instead, he calls a child over and tells them that if they want to enter the kingdom of heaven, they must be like this child! Did the disciples understand what Jesus meant? I doubt it!

Perhaps we need to ask ourselves:  how do we need to be like a child?  Jesus is not telling us to be “childish,” but to be “childlike!” What does this truly mean? What characteristics did Jesus associate with a child?  What “childlike qualities” does Jesus want us to nurture?  We can learn a great deal from children.  They are “just who they are” – and that is enough!   Let us also trust that this is what Jesus desires of us!

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