Being Child-Like Ws 2:12,17-20; Js 3:16—4:3; Mk 9:30-37

 

Being Child-Like

Ws 2:12,17-20; Js 3:16—4:3; Mk 9:30-37

I have become everything in turn to men of every sort, so that …I might save them (DO)

 

Jesus made a dramatic gesture by embracing a child to show his disciples who really is the greatest in the kingdom of God. Children in the ancient world had no rights, position, or privileges of their own. What can a little child possibly teach us about greatness?

The disciples thought that being part of Jesus’ circle would bring them privilege and status. They wanted power. This is a self-centered ambition. James says, “you have an ambition that you cannot satisfy, so you fight to get your way by force”. James understands Jesus well in saying, “The wisdom that comes down from above.” This is God’s ambition.  It is the ambition to serve. Those who want to be first must make themselves servant of all. All our ambitions must be subservient to that God-inspired ambition. One must give priority to the most vulnerable in society, symbolized by the child, completely dependent on adults for one’s own wellbeing. Our ambition is to serve those who are not able to help themselves.

Jesus goes on assuring his disciples and us that in serving the most vulnerable we are in fact serving him. He identifies himself as powerless and he sets the ambition to serve him among the weakest members of society. The important thing is not to triumph, but to serve. Greatness is not in the intellect of the wise man, but in the naivety of the child. Thomas à Kempis says, “If you knew the whole Bible by heart, and all the teachings of the philosophers, how would this help you without the grace and love of God?”. By greeting the wise man, we satisfy our vanity. By serving the needy, we hug God, and we are purified by Him, and divinized.

God wants to fill us with his own glory. He opposes the proud hearted but gives grace to the humble (Lk 1; Js 4:6). If we want to be filled with God’s life and power, we need to empty ourselves of everything which stands in the way – pride, self-seeking glory, vanity, etc. God wants empty vessels so he can fill them with his own glory, power, and love (2 Cor 4:7). Are we ready to humble ourselves and to serve as Jesus did? At times humility might be seen as weakness. It is not weakness but it’s the highest spiritual grade we obtain.

St. Teresa of Calcutta said, “People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway. If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway. What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today will often be forgotten. Do good anyway. Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway. In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway”.

“I do all this for the sake of the gospel, to take my part in proclaiming it” (DO)