"WHO IS GREATEST IN GOD'S KINGDOM?"

Homily for August 13^th, 2019:  Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 2-14.  

The world in which Jesus lived was certainly not child centered. Children were supposed to keep out of the way: to be seen, perhaps, but not heard. Jesus surprises his disciples (he’s still surprising people) by asking: “Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Then he answers his own question by saying: “Unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.”

          What is it about childhood that Jesus recommends? First, an aspect of childhood which he certainly does not recommend: two little ones in the playpen fighting over a toy that interested neither until the other one picked it up. Even young children can be selfish. As we grow older we learn ways of hiding our selfishness. Children are unable to do that.

          One thing about children that Jesus does recommend is their natural sense of dependence. It never occurs to little ones that they can make it on their own. Few things are more devastating for a young child than to be separated from Mummy or Daddy. I can still recall my feeling of panic some eighty-five years ago at losing sight of my mother amid the pre-Christmas crowds in Macy’s department story in New York. She soon found me. But for a few minutes I was terrified.

          Another feature of childhood recommended by Jesus is the ability to wonder. Everyday things which we adults take for granted amaze little children: birds in the sky, flowers, balloons. Sadly, TV has robbed children of this quality. By age 3 at the latest, they have seen it all on the Boob Tube. Artists retain the ability to wonder – and saints. A painter sees a piece of driftwood on the beach and gives it a place of honor in his studio at home. St. Teresa of Calcutta’s face was wreathed in smiles whenever she picked up a small child.

We pray, then, in this Mass: “Lord, give me always a sense of my dependence on you. Help me to gasp with wonder at the beauty of your creation!”