“So Jesus called a child, had him stand in front of them, and said, ‘I assure you that unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven. The greatest in the Kingdom of heaven is the one who humbles himself and becomes like this child. And whoever welcomes in my name one such child as this, welcomes me.’” Matthew 18: 2-5
The term “simple-minded” can be a derogatory synonym for ignorant, but not in this case. Simple-minded can refer to not having many worries, like children. Life has become very complicated. Maybe we can experience the simpler mind if we quit worrying and put our trust in God, like children trust their parents. God has wired into each and every one of us an innocent openness to the world. There is a special child who lives within each of us, the Christ Child. As you will read in the words of Henri Nouwen below, to welcome the Christ Child is to welcome humanity itself. In welcoming Jesus, we will find a companion for life.
… The Christ Child Within
I think that we have hardly thought through the immense implications of the mystery of the incarnation. Where is God? God is where we are weak, vulnerable, small, and dependent. God is where the poor are, the hungry, the handicapped, the mentally ill, the elderly, the powerless. How can we come to know God when our focus is elsewhere, on success, influence and power? I increasingly believe that our faithfulness will depend on our willingness to go where there is brokenness, loneliness, and human need…. Each one of us is very seriously searching to live and grow in this belief, and by friendship we can support each other. I realize that the only way for us to stay well in the midst of the many “worlds” is to stay close to the small, vulnerable child that lives in our hearts and in every other human being. Often we do not know that the Christ Child is within us. When we discover Him we can truly rejoice.
Submitted by Dr. Paula Artac
Prayer
Nativity Prayer of St. Augustine
Christ born in a stable is born in me, Christ accepted by shepherds accepts me, Christ receiving the wise men receives me, Christ revealed to the nations be revealed in me, Christ dwelling in Nazareth You dwell in me, Christ, grant that people may look at me and see Your Presence. Amen.
Nouwen, H. (2017). You Are the Beloved. Convergent Books, p. 377.