(Audio)
"Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?"
What does greatness mean? If we hadn't heard this question from Jesus before, how would we answer? We know that the world things of greatness in terms of strength and success. We Christians may have dropped wealth and power from the definition but we still think of greatness as including success. We think of saints who converted nations or charities feeding hundreds of thousands. But none of this factors in to the definition Jesus gives.
Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,
you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Whoever humbles himself like this child
is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.
A child is not great in any way in which we traditionally think of greatness. The good qualities of children involve an openness to the world and to the love of others that we jaded adults have lost. They don't try to earn salvation because they know they cannot. They are simple. They find it easy to depend and trust their families. The good news is we have lost these traits can learn them anew. Jesus invites us, indeed requires us, to become like children. We need the Holy Spirit to make this possible for us. But when we allow the ourselves to be transformed we find ourselves able to trust in and rely on God's protection in new and profound ways.
See that you do not despise one of these little ones,
for I say to you that their angels in heaven
always look upon the face of my heavenly Father.
Not only those who are literally children, but we too can rely on the angels our Father assigns to guard us. When we are small and childlike enough we will not be afraid to attempt even great things, knowing that nothing depends on ourselves alone, believing in that all things are possible.
If it please the king,
and if your servant is deserving of your favor,
send me to Judah, to the city of my ancestors’ graves,
to rebuild it.
We have more than a favorable king looking over our project. When we are sad we have more than a pagan king showing us compassion. We have a Father on whom we can rely. We have his angels guarding us.
As I had never before been sad in his presence,
the king asked me, “Why do you look sad?
If you are not sick, you must be sad at heart.”
So let us not be afraid. Let us go with great confidence to do what the Father asks, relying on the help and protection he provides.
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