With the Heart of a Child

 

Some like to say that Christmas is just for children. Now before one might be inclined to dismiss this remark as merely sentimental, recall this text in chapter 18 of Matthew's gospel, At that time the disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.

What is it therefore that is found in little children that we also must have in us? It is the innocence of humility. Often today, leaders of religion in their efforts to attract the younger generation will try to make the gospel message come across as "relevant", appealing to what is thought to be a sophisticated audience.  If the message is to be believed, it must pass the tough test of credibility; the test of science, the test of consensus, the test of popular approval. Why should people today accept the experiences and reports of simple people from centuries ago?

I have always enjoyed reading the exchanges between Job and the three friends who come to console him, or rather to straighten Job out, believing they know the ways of God and why Job is suffering as he is. Finally God's voice enters into the picture challenging the three friends. Since they know so much, God asks them to explain this; then God takes them through the many ponderous questions of that age, to which they have no answer.
  
Wanting to know, to learn, to discover is good. Children are like that, asking, waiting for answers, willing to explore. Give a child an answer and they will come back with more questions. In their innocent humility, children seem to understand that God's design is much bigger than a single answer. It's a mystery to be discovered. I have always found the image of the tunnel a good way of illustrating this point. A mystery is something you see yet not fully comprehended. You have to be humble of mind and willing to enter into the mystery to discover it fully. What better person to ask than the One who made it.

As a child, whenever I would come across an entrance like this, I could not wait to go inside. I lost that child's humble questioning at one point and with it my way. Then I was given a gospel passage, (the Nativity) with the instruction to enter into like a child and discover where it takes you. "Show me Lord, I wish to learn".