Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

“Anyone who welcomes a little child in my name welcomes me.”

Why are children the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? We can reflect on the qualities of children. Jesus tells us to imitate their humility. Children can be humble, accepting people as they are rather than worrying about status. They can be open, admitting their smallness and their need for help. They know that they can’t do everything by themselves and that they don’t know everything.

Children also have the gifts of the spirit. They can share their wisdom with us, cutting through the complexity that we bring into our lives and focusing on the importance of love and joy. Children can be full of wonder and awe, which are qualities of fear of the Lord. They can look at a simple flower and appreciate its beauty rather than rushing past God’s creations because they have seen them before. Thank you, Father, for the example of your children. Please help us to imitate their simplicity and welcome them, so that we can continually see your face through them.