Why is the child favored in our Gospel over the adult who has grown wise and learned? This remark is not made to display that those who are wise and learned are now without value, but instead by pointing towards a child Christ is able to show the relationship that we must have with Him. An adult is no longer in need of having a parent provide a home for them, an adult is no longer in need of having someone provide them with nourishment, an adult has become self sufficient and therefore no-longer holds obedience to anything, and as we see in modern culture adults can at times lack the trust that is necessary to have in others and thus have developed a relative way at looking at religion and at the world. But what about the child? A child needs a parent to provide them with a home, a child needs a parent to provide them with food, a child must be obedient to the rules that they are given, a child runs to the comfort of their parent when injured, and a child is able to accept ideas without questioning there possibility away.
One prayer that we constantly pray is the "Our Father" which through its many words draw us into this relationship that Christ desires for us. In order for us to utter these words with true faith we must embrace the role of the child in accepting such words. We cannot utter these words with the mindset of an adult who has become self sufficient and therefore not in need of anybody's help because if that were the case our intention is that we really don't need God in our life. The "Our Father" is a reminder of the opposite because each of us really do need God in our life. God provides for us as the Father provides for his son. When we are in danger and are in need of help Christ is present to lead of through this roughness of a storm. When we are mourning due to the loss of a loved one Christ is present to usher comfort into our life. When we are tempted towards falling into sin Christ is present to lead us away from this temptation. When we have fallen into sin we do not have to feel its weight, but allow Christ to bring us His mercy.
So many have uttered the words of the "Our Father," but in doing so they have rushed past them as if they were mere words without any value to offer. In our rush and through our lack of intention we do not utter these words as if we were a child who needs the love of a parent, but instead as if we were an adult who is in need of nothing. So many allow sin to entwine itself into their life that it seems to be common place and therefore in return the line of the confessional is left empty. So many take pride in their achievements and never allow themselves to turn towards God unless something unfortunate first befalls them. So many attend Mass week in and week out and yet have done nothing outside of the Church as the building to enhance their life of faith. Christ in our Gospel is not telling us that an adult cannot achieve the Kingdom of Heaven, but instead is leading us towards realizing that we are always in need of being held in relationship with Him as child is held in relationship with their parent.
May we trust in the value of these words and allow ourself to be moved towards Christ as a child. In this way we will realize that we cannot heal ourself from our sin, but instead we are in need of the mercy of Christ that is offered to us through the Sacrament of Confession. In this way we will realize that that our education inside of the faith is a life long process and therefore does not end when we graduate from school. In this way we will see the many gifts that we have been given in this life and thus give proper glory and praise to God instead of having ourself become the one who is exalted. When we pray we will not do so as if we were only speaking mere words that do not contain any value, but instead we will do so as one who is held in relationship with their parent who loves them dearly. May the "Our Father" truly become that prayer that guides all of our prayers and may it become the very way that we enter into relationship with the Father.
May we be willing to come to Christ this day and allow Him to take care of each and every single thing that may plague our life. As our Gospel goes on to say: "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest." If we are burdened by sin He will give us mercy. If we are burdened by temptation He will give us the strength to fight against it. If we are burdened by sickness he will give us hope. If we are burdened by the loss of a loved one He will bring us consolation. As a child we are drawn towards Christ who is willing to give us all that we will ever need to reach the Kingdom of Heaven. May we not reject this great invitation, but instead may we come to embrace it.
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