Inspired by Matthew 11:25-27
Wednesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
©️2021 Gloria M. Chang
At that time Jesus said in reply, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.
Matthew 11:25-27
Little Ones of the Kingdom
The Greek word translated as “childlike” in the NABRE is népios, which means infant, child, or babe. The little ones of the kingdom are trusting, spontaneous, simple, and pure in heart.
The same word appears in the Greek translation of Psalm 8:2:
Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
Psalm 8:2 in NKJV
You have ordained strength,
Because of Your enemies,
That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.
I will sing of your majesty above the heavens
Psalm 8:2b-3 in NABRE
with the mouths of babes and infants.
You have established a bulwark against your foes,
to silence enemy and avenger.
Your majesty is praised above the heavens;
Psalm 8:2b-3 in the Liturgy of the Hours
on the lips of children and of babes
you have found praise to foil your enemy,
to silence the foe and the rebel.
Thank you, Father, for opening our eyes—
Wee little ones, neither clever nor wise.
Dear GMC, thank you for your insightful reflection. It brings back fond memories of what a spiritual director once told me: the aim is to be childlike, not childish.