Childlike, trusting in God
When I looked up the definition of the word “childlike,” I found several varied meanings. It could mean “simple,” “naïve,” “gullible,” or “easily taken in.” Or it could mean “natural,” “open,” “frank,” or “trusting.” In this passage from Matthew, Jesus implies being childlike means trusting in God.
After all, he says, “For I say to you, that their (children’s) angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.”
Image by thedanw
"I warned you to listen to Me"
By Norm McGraw
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/100221.cfm
Baruch 4:5-12, 27-29
Matthew 18:1-5, 10
While writing my reflection this week on readings from Baruch (5-12, 27-29) in the Old Testament and Matthew (18: 1-5,10) in the New, I was reminded of a recent conversation that I had with a good friend. Over lunch, we were discussing how God reveals Himself through ordinary events in our lives. She commented that she believes it happens to her whenever she does something that she knows in her heart is wrong. Trouble usually followed. Moreover, she continued, she would then bump into a piece of furniture. It seemed to her God was saying, “I warned you to listen to Me.”
The consequences of not following God’s Word are clearly the point of the first reading.
Baruch states that by not following His Word, the Israelites “angered God” and that is they were “handed” over to their foes. Continuing, Baruch says, “For you provoked your Maker with sacrifices to demons, to no-gods.”
But God offered an alternative to this bleak fate. Later in the chapter, Baruch says, “For who has brought disaster upon you will, in saving you, bring you back enduring joy.” There is opportunity for redemption.
The first reading, then, tells us to follow the rules God has given us. The second reading tells us how God wants us to live. In the reading from Matthew, Jesus, in the presence of a child, says to his disciples “Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.”
When I looked up the definition of the word “childlike,” I found several varied meanings. It could mean “simple,” “naïve,” “gullible,” or “easily taken in.” Or it could mean “natural,” “open,” “frank,” or “trusting.” In this passage from Matthew, Jesus implies being childlike means trusting in God. After all, he says, “For I say to you, that their (children’s) angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.”
Simply put, God wants us to love Him with the openness of an innocent child. All we have to do is live according to His Word. And He will reward us with “enduring joy”.
That would be a lot better than bumping into furniture, don’t you think?