Daily Reflections ...

In today’s Gospel, Jesus rebuked His disciples for preventing children from coming to Him, declaring, ‘Let the little children come to me, do not stop them; for it is to, such as these that the Kingdom of God belongs.’  This teaching turned conventional thinking on its head, requiring that adults need to learn from a child’s capacity for complete trust in God, exemplified by their ability to confidently cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’

Jesus highlights the importance of allowing children to approach Him, showing that it is a critical age for them to develop a relationship with Him.  This call to ‘let the little children come to me’ challenges us to reflect on whether our actions foster a child’s spiritual growth or whether we leave them to worldly distractions and societal pressures.  Jesus’ words emphasise that God is our Father, and we are His children.  This relationship requires a sense of dependence on God, trusting in His Providence.

The passage also explores the adult struggle to ‘enter the Kingdom’ and the desire to regain the innocence and simplicity of childhood to love God wholeheartedly.  Adults, burdened by the knowledge of good and evil, must strive to preserve and recover their innocence.  This involves defending innocence across various aspects of life—home, media, Internet, school, neighbourhood, and work.  Becoming like a child, with complete trust and humility, is not just an ethical necessity but also a source of hope.  Rediscovering childlike simplicity allows adults to hope anew, even during times when we face overwhelming difficulties and evil.

By Ernesto Villalba