“Then were little children presented to him, that he should impose hands upon them and pray. And the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said to them: ‘Suffer the little children, and forbid them not to come to me: for the kingdom of heaven is for such.’ And when he had imposed hands upon them, he departed from thence.”
The people, seeing Jesus’ love of purity and His mighty power over the forces of darkness, then bring their little ones to Him, that by His laying on of hands, they may be clothed with the armor of light: “Lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. Amen” (Matthew 6:13). However, the human mind, due to concupiscence, ever leans to the negative and problem-solving, while being less inclined to rejoicing in and recalling the beautiful and good. This is why it is good, Theophila, in one’s examination of conscience at the end of the day, not to think primarily on your failures, but rather in where you saw God, giving thanks for His enduring presence in your life, for this brings joy to the heart, where to recall one’s sins weighs on the soul: “A glad heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by grief of mind the spirit is cast down” (Proverbs 15:13). The Apostles, with this in mind, do not remember the beautiful teaching of Jesus, that He had said: “Amen I say to you, unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3), instead seeing the time spent blessing children as time poorly spent. In the vein of Jesus, there is a story of the Seraphic St. Bonaventure that, as minister general of the Franciscans and doctor of the University of Paris, some other brothers were scandalized when he took time to help a lowly friar with spiritual advice, whereupon he answered that as minister general, all others were his master, and he was the servant of all: “If then I being your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14). Nothing done in love is a waste of time, Theophila, no act of love is too small or goes unnoticed, but your Father sees them all with a delighted smile and a warm heart: “The Lord beholdeth the ways of man, and considereth all his steps” (Proverbs 5:21). Jesus also answers that to children belongs the kingdom of heaven, because if the beautiful simplicity of children were to be cast aside, then who would be confident in going to Him? Secondly, the minds of children are so impressionable, that to be cold towards them may place a deep imprint of a lack of love, whereas the devotion and love that they experience in church can well inspire them in their journey to be a saint: “Let us consider one another, to provoke unto love and to good works” (Hebrews 10:24). Having many years but little love is not itself praiseworthy: “Three sorts my soul hateth, and I am greatly grieved at their life… an old man that is a fool, and doting” (Ecclesiasticus 25:3-4), whereas few years but great love is marvelous in the eye of the Lord: “For venerable old age is not that of long time, nor counted by the number of years: but he understanding of a man is grey hairs. And a spotless life is old age” (Wisdom 4:8-9). The two together, however, of graceful innocence and a love well-cultivated through wisdom and life experience, this is a true treasure: “Old age is a crown of dignity, when it is found in the ways of justice” (Proverbs 16:31). There can also be a mystical interpretation here, that the little ones are those who grasp simple lessons of the faith with great joy and wonder: “I gave you milk to drink, not meat” (1 Corinthians 3:2), and should not be reviled for their simplicity because the one stronger in the faith has greater wisdom. Rather, it should be inspiring that a little one is learning with happiness the ways of God, like a child laughing with glee at taking a few steps, and is deserving of grace and blessing, that they may be inspired not simply to walk, but to run: “They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (Isaias 40:31). Therefore, Theophila, love the little ones, both in age and spiritual maturity, that they may be warmed by the fire in your heart and run with you in the paths of love: “Draw me: we will run after thee to the odour of thy ointments” (Canticle 1:3).