Like a Child

Recently my son David realised that we would no longer have anywhere to live because our landlord had asked us to move out immediately. With a serious expression, David came to me and said, ‘Daddy, I have a piggy bank, and there is a lot of change there. I will give everything to you. You can rent a new flat, and we can live there.’ I thanked him and embraced him, but told him that his money was not enough; we needed much more. David responded, ‘I will find more. I will look where my toys are. Somewhere there will be more coins, and I will give all of them to you.’ I embraced him and wept.

When Jesus calls us to be like children, he has precisely such qualities in mind: a sincere faith, sacrifice without the slightest greed and unselfish love. After all, even if I scold my son, he still stretches out a hand to me and runs to embrace me, looking for forgiveness and love. This is an example for us to follow as children of a heavenly Father. I think this is what Jesus was teaching through his story about the widow’s gift to the temple. Such sacrificial giving is the means by which the Church is built and sustained.

Prayer: Dear God, our Father, help us to realise that everything we have in this life comes from you. Help us to be sacrificial as we give to your Church and to those in need. Amen