In that gospel, Christ clarified how being simple and humble
like a little child would enable one to accept Christ. “Whoever
receives this child in my name receives me,” he said. “And whoever
receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least
among all of you is the one who is the greatest.”
This clarification of Christ came as a consequence of the
apostles talking among themselves about who among them was the
greatest. It can be supposed that they must be feeling important since
they realized they had the fortune of knowing and being with Christ.
But that was not enough. The gospel somehow links being
simple, humble and childlike with the capacity to be accepting and to
be able to have a good working relationship with everyone irrespective
of who and how they are, despite the unavoidable differences and
conflicts among them. This point Christ established when he said,
“Whoever is not against you is for you.”
We have to realize that if we want to be with God always and
to know the fine points of his mysterious will and ways, we need to be
always simple and childlike. Christ may have told us also to be clever
and shrewd like serpents, but that quality which is also a necessity
in our life here on earth should never compromise our simplicity. In
fact, that cleverness should also spring from our simplicity.
Christ is quite clear about this point. “I give praise to
you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,” he said, “for although you
have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have
revealed them to the childlike.” (Mt 11,25)
Christ reiterated this necessity of being childlike a number
of times during his preaching. “Unless you change and become like
little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt
18,3) “Let the children come to me. Do not prevent them, for the
Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Mk 10,15) St. James, in his
letter, made the same affirmation. “God opposes the proud but shows
favor to the humble.” (4,6)
We need to devise an interior mechanism, more spiritual than
material, to keep ourselves like children even as we grow in worldly
knowledge and skills, and prone to thinking that we can already live
by ourselves, independently of God.
To be childlike would also enable us to be accepting of
everyone and to be able to work with everyone, irrespective of who and
how they are. The mere fact that everyone can be presumed to be
looking always for what is true and good, even if they are wrong in
their pursuit, can signify that we have a common bond. Those who
differ with us cannot really be against us. And so, we can always find
ways of how to deal with them in a charitable way.
If we follow the example of Christ, we would know how to
live the truth in charity and charity in the truth. Somehow the
exclusivity of truth blends with the inclusivity of charity! How
important therefore to grow in spiritual childhood in our life!
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