SAINT BONAVENTURE, BISHOP AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH (MEMORIAL)

You have revealed them to the childlike

Having a one-year-old sure keeps parents on their toes.   At this stage of development, a child thinks he can walk and climb before he is quite ready, so there are quite a few falls.   Whenever he’s hurt, through tears and cries, he looks straight at his parents.   Of course, they pick him up, make sure he’s all right, and comfort him. And this is true not just with injuries.   As much as a young toddler likes exploring solo, she often wants to climb up into her parents’ arms, whether to reach something high, to read a book, or just to snuggle.

A child’s relationship with their parents is a precious thing.   A child’s boundless trust leads them to turn instantly to Mom or Dad.   This is precisely the image Jesus uses in his prayer to his Father in today’s Gospel (Matthew 11:25 – 27).   There was something about the people who accepted Jesus, something that made them open to receiving the word of God.   Jesus calls these people “the childlike” (Matthew 11:25).

If God reveals himself to the childlike, then how can we become like children in relation to God?   It’s easy to think that in order to know God, we had better begin a long course of study and a rigorous program of virtue building.   We might also think, “Gosh, look how far behind I already am!”

But that’s not being like a child.   We can learn from a one-year-old here:   I need, I want, I hurt.   We begin with, “Help me, God!”   And think of how Jesus taught us to pray:   Our Father.

This kind of innocent trust, turning to God in our pain as well as our joys, reaching up our hands and trusting that he will pick us up—that is childlike.   That is the attitude we are all invited to adopt.

When we turn to God like children, he does much more than pick us up and comfort us.   He reveals himself to us.   Like a good parent, he shows us how much he loves us and opens our eyes to his mercy.   He teaches us right from wrong and shows us how to live.   Best of all, he assures us that he is always our Father.

“Jesus, teach me to be childlike and trust in God my Father.”

Isaiah 10:5-7, 13-16
Psalm 94:5-10, 14-15