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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus said,

“Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

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– Mark 10:15 (NIV)

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REFLECTION…

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We have to approach our faith with the dispositions of children

– simply, that is, without prejudice and with our souls wide open to grace.

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Even more than that, as our Lord emphasises further on another occasion,

it is necessary to become completely child-like

in order to enter the kingdom of heaven:

“Unless you change and become like little children,

you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Mat 18:3).

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Jesus is not recommending childishness, but innocence and simplicity.

He sees in children traits and attitudes that are essential in anyone

if he or she is to gain heaven,

and even in this life, if he or she is to enter the kingdom of faith.

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A child is devoid of even the slightest feeling of self-sufficiency.

A child is in constant need of its parents, and knows it.

A child is fundamentally a being in need,

and this is what we Christians should be like before our Father God,

beings in total need.

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QUOTE…

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“To become children we must renounce our pride and self-sufficiency,

recognising that we can do nothing by ourselves.

We must realise that we need grace and the help of God the Father

to find our way and keep to it.

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To be little, you have to abandon yourself as children do,

believe as children believe,

beg as children beg.”

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– St. Josemaria Escriva

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord, save me from myself and my pride,

that I may abandon myself to You and faithfully do Your will.

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[*] Today’s reflection is sourced from the seven-volume work “In Conversation with God” by Padre Francisco Fernández Carvajal.