Daily Devotions

A second Lenten quote from Pope John Paul ll states, “These are the precious weeks offered by the Church to all Christians, in order to help them to reflect upon their profound identity as children of the heavenly Father and as brothers and sisters of all human beings.”

Much of Jesus teaching centres on the theme of children particularly in relation to his followers. In John 1:12 “…. all who received him, he gave the right to become children of God. All they needed to do was to trust him to save them.” Elsewhere, we read, “People brought babies to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. When the disciples saw it, they shooed them off. Jesus called them back. “Let these children alone. Don’t get between them and me. These children are the kingdom’s pride and joy. Mark this: Unless you accept God’s kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you’ll never get in.” (Luke 18:15-17)

I read of a father who shared an incident involving his 5-year-old daughter. One day, during a thunder storm--lightning flashing, thunder roaring--he went to check on her. He found his little girl standing on the window sill leaning spread eagled against the glass.

He said, "Jennifer, what are you doing?"

She said, "I think God's trying to take my picture."

Here was a little girl who knows who she is; she knows her value; she knows her worth.

Jesus told the disciples to change and become humble like children. How? We cannot regain our youth, inexperience, or innocence. But we can learn to put our ego in its place, to stop pushing ourselves forward, hogging the conversation. We can learn to be happy in the background, no longer the centre of attention or striving to be the greatest. To be comfortable in that role is a huge grace.

Lord, you saw something in the child you placed in the middle of the crowd, that you want to see in me: the capacity to wonder at the world, its smells and taste and sounds and sights; and a readiness to depend on others rather than be full of myself; and above all, a trust in you as my Father, for whom my destiny is all-important. Give me that childlike confidence in your love. Amen