The Greatest People: Matthew 18:2-6

In Matthew 18:1-6, the Gospel reads:

"About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, 'Which of us is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven?'

Jesus called a small child over to him and put the child among them. He said, 'I assure you, unless you turn from your sins and become as little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. Therefore, anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven. And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. But if anyone causes one of these little ones who trust in me to lose faith, it would be better for that person to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around the neck.'"

Somehow, this passage reads differently for me each time I come across it. As a convert, I understand the need to ground children in a belief before they sail adrift in the mindless games of the world. As someone anticipating children, I hope to comprehend the best practices to raise a child in the Christian way. As a Christian, I know I fail to have this childlike faith that Jesus asks of me.

If the expectations of Jesus are broken down, the path looks almost easy on paper. Have deep, unrelenting trust and faith in God, forgive as Jesus forgave, and aid those in need. However, the deep and unrelenting faith is more difficult for me to grasp the older I get.

I wish that I had some great epiphany about this passage this week during Adoration, but other than sitting so deeply with me that I had to write it down to come back to, my connection to it remains the same. I believe that Jesus wants me to grow more childlike in my relationship with Him, but it doesn't come naturally to me.

Addiction in childhood is not something that fades when a child turns 18. Instead it leads to trust issues and emotional disorders in future relationships and within the self. For me, it's difficult to find this childlike trust in God because fear blocks it out, wondering when this Heavenly Father may turn out to actually have a dark side that I was blind to because I was too busy adoring Him as a child should adore their parents.

I want this childlike faith, but it will take forgiveness, but that, too, can be improved with the mind of a child. Children tend to forgive easily because if they don't forgive their brother or sister, who will play with them? Not that they view it selfishly, but rather they don't linger on anger because they know the happiness from playtime is better. We, as adults, must practice this mindset more in our lives in order to remember that communication and trust are far greater than grudges or being right.

Childlike faith is strong and hopeful. This is what Jesus asks of us, and it's a task we know is possible because we once held this faith within our parents and caretakers when we were still young. May God grant us the strength to dive back in to our beliefs and hopes despite the worldly rationality that takes over and tries to control us. If we had no control over our lives and the events that happened around us as children, why would it change now that we're a little taller and grayer?

My Lord, grant us spirits of love and hope. Bring us to You. We are weak and small, but Your grace grants us life. May we live as You have deemed and follow in the steps that You have walked. In Jesus' name, Amen.