This is a continuation of my previous post on February 15th, 2024; a link to that post is provided here:
In addition to witnessing inspiring examples of childlike trust, the experiences in the children’s hospital opened my eyes to what I had previously thought about humility and the Gospel phrase, “whoever humbles himself like a child…” (Matthew 18:4) Honestly, I had assumed being humble meant putting aside our ego and pride, opening our reason to the thoughts and opinions of others, but still maintaining ultimate control over our own decisions and actions. Too often, that simply meant politely listening before doing what I wanted or thought was right anyway.
It seems to be a classic adult response that says, “of course we must be in control, that’s what responsible adults do.” As a result, we treat humility as if it has a switch to be turned on when convenient and turned off when the rubber meets the road and threatens our ability to control outcomes. This seems clearly to not be what Jesus meant in admonishing us to “receive the kingdom of God like a little child.”
But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
- Luke 18:16-17
While there has been much written delineating the qualities that contribute to a childlike faith (Just type those words into your preferred internet search engine), including being trusting, humble, joyful, uninhibited (i.e. not self-conscious), forgiving, curious, imaginative. The one trait that stands out for me that I witnessed most frequently in the hospital setting, and seems vitally linked to the true meaning of humility in this context, is a complete dependence on others.
Maybe that seems obvious; they are children after all, in a very serious setting and often with very serious medical situations. However, as children move toward adulthood, we hope they develop the ability for self-care in their most essential needs. It’s the time in life when independence becomes the objective, and they are systematically desensitized to being dependent on other people. As adults we don’t strive to be needy, we tend to shun it. Afterall, as Robert Frost famously told us in his poem, “Nothing Gold Can Stay”:
Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
- Robert Frost (Nothing Gold Can Stay)
Like a lot of folks, I first became aware of this poem from the movie The Outsiders; for a walk down memory lane, that movie clip is here and worth seeing:
Why must youth, beauty and life itself be fleeting? Why must nothing pure and innocent last? Why must childhood disappear in order to face the world on our own? Why can’t we just “stay gold” as Johnny encourages Ponyboy in the movie?
The answer may be in those words “on our own.” As a community of faith, that is something we are not; we just don’t always realize it, let alone practice it. God’s Kingdom is a community, a kinship, where we can let go and let God take control and command, where our need for and loving relationship with Him and with each other is absolute. It is a humble childlike disposition that embraces dependence without judgment, without recrimination, accepting others as they are, for who they are, while understanding one’s own place and loving relationship in the Kingdom of God. This paves the way for obedience and a deep-rooted dependence on God, putting aside our will and encouraging trust that our “Father in heaven will give good gifts to those who ask him.” Matthew 7:11
And that became our prayer that day in the NICU, with the family and their newborn preemie mentioned in Part I, last week’s post; placing our childlike faith in our Father in heaven that His will be done. It took the humble, trusting heart of a 5-year-old sibling to remind us that as His children we are all perfect in the eyes of our Maker.
We aspire to what is great; in order to become great, let us become attached to what is little. Would you like to deal with God’s greatness? Deal first with his humility.
– St. Augustine of Hippo
Reflection questions:
- When you think about and practice humility, what definition are you using? How does that compare to your interpretation of Jesus’ meaning when He says, “Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven”? (Matthew 18:4)
- In his Gospel Reflection on John 1:35-42 of January 14, 2024, Bishop Robert Barron stated that “the disciples learn a new way of radical dependency upon God.” Read it here: https://www.wordonfire.org/reflections/b-ordinary-wk2-sunday/ He offers some practical suggestions on how any of us can take baby steps toward this goal.
Scripture References
Luke 18:16-17 Matthew 7:11 Matthew 18:4
John 1:35-42
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