August 12:Like Children / Como Niños

Have you ever noticed that the questions people ask often reveal their values, their priorities, and what they think is important? When the disciples of Jesus put to Him the question, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” it showed their interest in personal status and reputation. In His reply (Matthew 18, 1-14), Jesus both did something and said something: first, He placed a child in front of them; and, second, He said they needed to become like that child just to enter the kingdom of heaven, let alone become the greatest in the kingdom.

Hearing clearly Jesus’ teaching is important: His disciples are to become child-like not childish. There’s an important difference. We are called to be child-like in the sense of totally trusting in our loving Father – and demanding nothing else, including status and standing. Greatness, then, comes to those who make themselves as dependent on God as children are dependent on adults for their care and well-being. Jesus’ answer to His disciples’ question reveals His values and priorities, and it is like a commentary on the first Beatitude: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

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En el Evangelio de San Mateo (18, 1-14), Jesús nos exige cambiar y hacernos como niños pequeños. Es una invitación a aprender de los niños a ser espontáneos y confiados hacia Dios y hacia los otros, llenos de admiración y gratitud, y anhelando y trabajando por todo lo bueno.

Para Jesús, un niño cuenta mucho, ya que Dios ama lo sencillo y pequeño. Los niños son los mayores en el Reino de Dios a causa de su sabiduría sencilla, su falta de pretensión, y su humildad. Los pecadores están también entre los pequeños, pero en diferente sentido… Sin embargo, ninguno de ellos debe perderse. En nosotros también debería sobrevivir el niño que llevamos dentro. ¿No estamos poniendo obstáculos en el camino del Reino a causa de nuestra “sofisticación” y de nuestras pretensiones?