Accept the kingdom of God like a child

WHILE children can be noisy and bothersome (to us adults), they teach us many lessons. Let us remember we, too, were once children! They remind us of the value of playfulness, of taking life as a “play” — something enjoyable and exciting. They teach us docility, openness, sincerity, and truthfulness. Trusting in persons responsible for them, children remind us of the value of dependence.

This is how our relationship with God ought to be! As adults, we surely face important and difficult decisions, and we cannot face them childishly — but childlikely, yes, just like Jesus whose obedience to and trust in his Father never wavered. The Father remained his “Abba” even in his darkest trials of Gethsemane and Calvary. If we can still hug our father or mother now as adults, that is a good sign!

How much of our simplicity, childlike trust, and openness have remained? How can we recover the value of childlike trust in God that we may have lost?

Gospel • MARK 10:13-16

People were bringing children to Jesus that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, “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.” Then he embraced the children and blessed them, placing his hands on them.