September 6, 2006
Becoming Like Children
Someone recently asked me what Jesus meant when He said, “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 18:3). Obviously it cannot mean becoming immature and childish. Saint Paul clearly states: “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me” (1Cor 13:11). Rather, I think we have to take our cue from Jesus Himself. Jesus hints at this two verses later when He says, “And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me,” (Mt 18:5). In other words Jesus identifies Himself with little children. In some of the ancient liturgies of the Church, Jesus is called the “child” (literally, paidion), as opposed to the “son” (huios), of God, clearly evoking the sense of the relationship of a little boy to his father, and not just that of a son of whatever age.
Although when fully grown as a human being Jesus acted like a mature adult, still He always maintained a very childlike relationship with His Father, especially in the sense of profound trust and boundless confidence. He was always looking at the Father and listening to Him, and only did and said what He saw the Father doing and saying (cf. Jn 8:28, 38). His food was to do the will of the Father (Jn 4:34), and He allowed Him to direct His destiny, even in the end surrendering His very life into the Father’s hands (Lk 23:46).
To “become like children” so as to be able to enter the kingdom of heaven is to imitate Jesus in His relationship with His Father. This is expressed eloquently in the following Prayer of Abandonment composed by Bl. Charles de Foucauld:
Father,
I abandon myself into your hands;
do with me what you will.
Whatever you may do, I thank you:
I am ready for all, I accept all.
Let only your will be done in me,
and in all your creatures -
I wish no more than this, O Lord.
Into your hands I commend my soul:
I offer it to you with all the love of my heart,
for I love you, Lord, and so need to give myself,
to surrender myself into your hands without reserve,
and with boundless confidence,
for you are my Father.
Fr. Herald J. Brock, CFR
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