Be Like Children
Tuesday 19th week ordinary time
(Matthew 18:1-5)
In our ordinary world, those who are famous become our idols. There is a constant search for idols: American Idols, Philippines Idols, and so on. But in our Gospel today Jesus called a child to him and said we are to become like children. A chldren to be our idol?
I found an intriguing idea today about the practice of “inverted Confucianism” today: instead of worshipping our ancestors we worship our grandchildren. The status of children is utterly changed; till modern times they were regarded simply as incomplete adults – ignorant, helpless and dependent.
To receive the impact of what Jesus did and said, we have to put the pampered little tyrant out of our mind and imagine a child in 1st-century Palestine. In Jesus’ time children had no rights, position, or privileges of their own. They were socially at the "bottom of the rung" and at the service of their parents, much like the household staff and domestic servants. Notice that Jesus placed the child at his right side. What is the significance of Jesus' gesture? Jesus elevated a little child in the presence of his disciples by placing the child in a privileged position of honor at his right side. It is customary, even today, to seat the guest of honor at the right side of the host. Who is the greatest in God's kingdom? The one who is humble and lowly of heart — who instead of asserting their rights willingly empty themselves of pride and self-seeking glory by taking the lowly position of a servant or child.
Moreover, children have their qualities we can learn despite of their defects. They are intellectually and emotionally immature. But children have some precious qualities which they often lose as they grow up. They are born free of prejudice and they are totally open to learning. It is this quality that we need to enter the Reign of God. To be totally open and free of prejudice when it comes to listening to God. To be fully teachable and malleable and flexible. Then we are ready to receive everything that God wants us to have and to become everything God wants us to become. Furthermore, to welcome a person who has these qualities in Jesus’ name is to welcome Christ himself.
(Matthew 18:1-5)
In our ordinary world, those who are famous become our idols. There is a constant search for idols: American Idols, Philippines Idols, and so on. But in our Gospel today Jesus called a child to him and said we are to become like children. A chldren to be our idol?
I found an intriguing idea today about the practice of “inverted Confucianism” today: instead of worshipping our ancestors we worship our grandchildren. The status of children is utterly changed; till modern times they were regarded simply as incomplete adults – ignorant, helpless and dependent.
To receive the impact of what Jesus did and said, we have to put the pampered little tyrant out of our mind and imagine a child in 1st-century Palestine. In Jesus’ time children had no rights, position, or privileges of their own. They were socially at the "bottom of the rung" and at the service of their parents, much like the household staff and domestic servants. Notice that Jesus placed the child at his right side. What is the significance of Jesus' gesture? Jesus elevated a little child in the presence of his disciples by placing the child in a privileged position of honor at his right side. It is customary, even today, to seat the guest of honor at the right side of the host. Who is the greatest in God's kingdom? The one who is humble and lowly of heart — who instead of asserting their rights willingly empty themselves of pride and self-seeking glory by taking the lowly position of a servant or child.
Moreover, children have their qualities we can learn despite of their defects. They are intellectually and emotionally immature. But children have some precious qualities which they often lose as they grow up. They are born free of prejudice and they are totally open to learning. It is this quality that we need to enter the Reign of God. To be totally open and free of prejudice when it comes to listening to God. To be fully teachable and malleable and flexible. Then we are ready to receive everything that God wants us to have and to become everything God wants us to become. Furthermore, to welcome a person who has these qualities in Jesus’ name is to welcome Christ himself.
