Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
As we approach today’s Gospel, I invite you to call to mind children whom you know. Think about what characterizes these and other typical children. You might recognize their innocence, playfulness, inquisitiveness, joy. Jesus tells us that if we are to understand the things of God, we must be childlike. Let’s explore what it means to approach our faith in a childlike manner and ask our heavenly Father to gift us with a childlike heart and mind.
Jesus exclaims, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.” What are “these things” that have been revealed to the childlike? Given the context of this passage, I submit that these things encompass the mysteries of the Kingdom of God and the message of Christ’s teaching and preaching. Why is it the childlike who receive the revelation?
I invite you to camp out on that question. What is the link between being childlike and receptivity to God’s revelation? One of the first things that comes to my mind is that children are teachable. The humble innocence of a child positions them to be hungry and eager to learn. Children maintain a receptive posture. People frequently say that children are like sponges, with tremendous capacity to soak up knowledge and information. Even though as adults we may not be as spongelike as we once were, let us ask God today for the graces to hunger and thirst more to apprehend the mysteries of God’s Kingdom.
Continuing to pull this thread of teachability, Jesus tells us the things of God are hidden from the wise and learned. Why would that be? The wise and learned easily become self-reliant. Self-confidence, knowledge, expertise can become idols that turn our attention away from God. We need the “Beginner’s Mind” of the martial arts master who at his death insisted on being buried wearing his white belt, the symbol of a beginner. I might ask myself today, am I truly teachable, or am I sometimes closed off to the voice of God because I’m over-confident in what I think I know?
At the other extreme are folks who avoid the study of God’s Word because they feel intimidated by it and despair of being able to understand it. They shy away for many reasons and offer a variety of excuses. “I only have an 8th grade education in the faith,” I’ve heard many Catholics lament. How might a true childlike approach to the faith and to God’s Word open up new vistas to us? Jesus tells us today that it is the Father’s gracious will to reveal his truth to the childlike.
I would submit that either of the two extremes above – falling into an idolatrous self-reliance, or avoiding learning because we feel inadequate or ill-equipped – could be considered childish, rather than childlike. Let us leave childishness behind today and embrace being childlike in the purity and humility that it embraces.
What are some other childlike qualities that come to your mind? I’m thinking of the purity of a child’s love. A child loves with purity of heart, with no prejudice, fear, self-consciousness, or exclusion. A child trusts. Until beset by the first betrayal of life, a child trusts deeply and unwaveringly. A child typically serves as a courageous champion for justice, recognizing the inherent dignity and value of every person. Think of the times in which you’ve seen a child stand up against injustice, perhaps in confronting a playground bully. A child is a peacemaker. Again, think about examples of children promoting peace within their family or in their circle of friends. Interesting, isn’t it, that the more we adopt these virtues, the more receptive we become to God’s revelation?!
What resonates with you as you consider these qualities and others that come to your mind? What might you want to say to God today or ask for from God today? My prayer is that each one of us might become more childlike today so that the things of God might be revealed to us in ever-increasing measure. Remember Jesus’ words – it is the Father’s gracious will that we become childlike in our approach to him. We can pray in confidence for the grace of childlikeness! Thanks be to God!
—Elizabeth Wells