Humble Like This Child

At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ He called a child, whom he put among them, and said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. ‘If any of you put a stumbling-block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of stumbling-blocks! Occasions for stumbling are bound to come, but woe to the one by whom the stumbling-block comes! ‘If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than to have two hands or two feet and to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into the hell of fire. Matthew 18:1-9

When our daughters were small, I marveled at the way they interacted with the world. Reaching and exploring, tasting and feeling, everything was gift and possibility to them. We can often forget what it is like to be a child. We can be jaded, angry and hurt by the world by the time we are grown. And then, we can live our lives without the joy of exploring and interacting with others as if they were gifts to be opened. Jesus invites us to continually return to the basics, to daily see the world with a child's vision, a child's hope and a child's heart.

Creator, you are the parent of us all

and our wounds and falls keep us

from loving you and our neighbors.

Heal the wounds we carry today

so that we do not wounds others

and so we can live as your children

with hearts open to new miracles daily. Amen.