Matthew 18:3-4 … Becoming again as a Child (07/18/15)
There is a rather intriguing passage in the New Testament where Jesus says “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” (Matthew 18:3-4) … Of course, as with every other passage in the New Testament, the “Kingdom of Heaven” Jesus is referring to here is a Here & Now experience; a state of indescribable Bliss that is always within us (Luke 17:20-21), ever-waiting to be accessed by courageous acts of selfless Love. And yet this is not what is most important or even most interesting about Matthew 18:3-4. No, what intrigues me the most is that the Greek word the text uses for “children” & “child” is a word that does not mean infant or adolescent or teen-ager, but rather — TODDLER.
The Humility of a TODDLER is necessary enter into the Kingdom, and that makes total sense — at least to any one who has spent time around such very young children. For kids at that age exude a purity of living and an intimacy of interaction with others that is truly unparalleled by any other human age-group.
*Toddlers have real Empathy — they truly Care for one another. When one of them cries, another comes over to provide comfort. When one of them is scared, another comes by to provide solace. When one of them is happy, others flock to join in the celebration. They cheer others’ successes and they commiserate others’ failures. Even though no one has taught them or told them to do so, toddlers tend to play as one team.
Let us “become humble again as a child” …
Today, let us choose to openly & courageously Care.
*Toddlers have real Humility — they truly Accept one another. At this wonderful age of innocence, it doesn’t matter whether one’s playmate is a boy or a girl or a transgender; it doesn’t matter whether one’s playmate is black or white or Asian or Indian; it doesn’t matter whether one’s playmate is “good-looking” or “ugly” or “normal”; it doesn’t matter if one’s playmate is a Christian or Muslim or a Buddhist or an atheist; and it dones’t matter whether one’s playmate is a fellow human or a dog or a cat or a chicken or a pig. What matters is playing well together — learning, loving, and having a good time.
Let us “become humble again as a child” …
Today, let us choose to be openly & courageously Accepting.
*Toddlers have real Kindness — they truly Love one another. Without encouragement from others and without checking to see if it is “acceptable” or “proper”, little children will frequently show open expressions of fondness for one another. They forgive trespasses quickly and form deep friendships effortlessly. They receive just as much joy — if not more — from sharing what they have as from receiving what another has to give.
Let us “become humble again as a child” …
Today, let is choose to be openly & courageously Kind.
Amen … Let it be so.
(~ inspired by Jen Cort and all toddlers everywhere)
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