Today’s Scripture Readings

Gospel Reading

NRSV

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.

A saccharine piety might suggest that Jesus is urging his disciples to be sweet and innocent, like a little child. But “sweet and innocent” does not really describe how children act! Just like the disciples, children regularly seek attention, wanting to be the greatest.

But Jesus isn’t talking about some psychological game whereby we act like a child: that’s a false idea of sanctity. Jesus is talking, quite bluntly, about power: those who have it, and those who don’t. He puts the child before us not as an example of naive innocence but as one who, in that world and time, is of no account: someone whose existence is precarious.

St Therese of the Child Jesus helps us to see this. Her autobiography is not a sweet tale of a childlike nun: the darkness and doubt that she struggled against in her final illness makes this clear. Her spiritual childhood was grounded not in a contrived naivety but rather in the choice to be little, to be the one without power. Time and again she recounts her small victories over the impulse to assert herself over others, to have things her own way.

Rather than trying to act like children, let’s follow Therese’s example by occasionally taking the place of the child. When presented with the opportunity to assert ourselves or draw attention to our achievements, let’s relinquish that power or prestige to others. So many people have no choice but to exist in that lowest place, on the margins. To willingly stand there, even briefly and in small ways, can be an act of solidarity, and of true spiritual childhood.

How could you choose ‘to be little’ today?