Saturday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
The kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
We regularly hear these phrases in the gospels. They often come as a conclusion to some particular sayings of Jesus. Much of Jesus’ teaching was intended to instruct the disciples in the ways of the kingdom:
Often in the gospel, a child is held up as the example to follow: whoever does not accept the reign of God like a little child shall not take part in it. And how does a child accept the reign of God? The way of a child is more than anything else characterized by innocence and acceptance.
William Barclay spells out some of these childlike virtues: humility (pride and prestige are the furthest things from the mind of a child); obedience (excessive need for independence does not motivate a child); trust (a child is accepting of others, even authority; confidence in others to do good and to be good); a child has a short memory (has not yet learned to bear grudges or nourish bitterness). Such are the ways of the child, and such are the ways of the kingdom as we hear it so often proclaimed.
What we conclude from today is that we have much to gain from others in the kingdom, especially from the innocence of the child. We also learn from others as well.
Reflection by Fr. Peter Ullrich, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections