17-08-24 Kembali Jadi Anak Kecil: Meraih Kemurnian Hati di Hadapan Tuhan

Saturday 19th week in ordinary time "Mt 19:13-15" Children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people; but Jesus said, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven." And he laid his hands on them and went away. Children sometimes look forward to growing up and becoming independent. But Jesus wants us to become children and remain dependent on the Father. He doesn't want us to lose our 'innocence' because innocent children don't hesitate to ask their parents for whatever they need. They rely on their mum and dad for everything, big or small. They never forget that they are children, or who their father is. They know they can do nothing important but 'mum and dad' can do everything. They're never afraid because they know that their parents are there for them. St Thérèse of Lisieux explained her 'Little Way' to get close to God with these words: "We no longer have to take the trouble of climbing stairs because an elevator has replaced these. I wanted to find an elevator which would raise me to Jesus, for I am too small to climb the rough stairway of perfection. I searched, then, in the Scriptures and I read these words: "Let the children come to me." I felt I had found what I was looking for... The elevator which must raise me to heaven is Your arms, O Jesus! And for this I had no need to grow up, but rather I had to remain little and become this more and more." And St Josemaría teaches, "My friend, if you want to be great, become little. To be little it is necessary to believe as children believe, to love as children love, to give yourself up as children give themselves up... to pray as children pray." Quino, an Argentinian caricaturist, has a funny sketch in which a little boy, called Guille, is in his father's arms. It is cloudy but the child wants to see the sun, so he asks Daddy to bring it to him. The father smiles and replies, "But that's impossible! How can I bring you the sun?" "You can't?" little Guille asks his dad. Then, disappointed, he pushes his father's face away and says, "Kindly put me down, sir." (As if saying 'I don't know you anymore'). God never disappoints. He can bring the sun - and does so every day - to His children. Mary, my Mother, help me to become a trustful child.