By Orlando Hernandez

In this Tuesday’s Gospel (Mt 18:1-5, 10, 12-14), Jesus places a child in the midst of His disciples and tells them:

“Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.
“See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my Heavenly Father. What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, Amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your Heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.”

This passage always reminds me that our Heavenly Father loves each and every one of us as if we were children and He is our totally devoted parent. I feel that we need to remember this if we are to “enter” into His Kingdom.

When my granddaughter was only three years old I would take her to the playground. It was, as always, a joyous time. But on a special day my Lord gave me the blessing of a powerful insight into His Love.

As soon as we got to the playground my granddaughter let go of my hand, took off, and headed for those dangerous-looking climbing contraptions that would always make me a little nervous. She totally forgets about me, but I don’t forget about her.I stand around beneath her with my hands out while she struggles up a ladder that seems too much for her. I offer to help her and she says, “No grandpa. I’m okay! Leave me alone!”. I feel this strange hurt in my heart.

On that particular day I was suddenly struck by the realization that this is the way we are with God. We run from Him and try to go about our business, sure that we can handle it. We forget Him, but He never forgets about us. He is like a faithful bodyguard, always there.

I continue to watch out for my little one, and smile to see how she can handle these physical challenges. She is so lovely! I feel such happiness. I am suddenly overwhelmed by how much I love this child, so much that I am even ready to die for her! And this is exactly what my God did for me. He loves me like this, like His own flesh and blood, like His child or grandchild. Nothing I can possibly do will take His love away from me! It is a wild, crazy love that suddenly possesses me in the middle of this park. My eyes fill with tears. My heart is about to burst. I feel loved in such a powerful, immense way, by a Person who knows me from the very beginning of my life. He listens carefully to every silly thing I tell Him. He puts up with all my childish nonsense and looks after me when I get lost…..

Oh, oh, where’s my little girl? I don’t see her in the crowded playground. She is one among maybe 100 children just like her. I look for my lost, little “sheep” among so many. And then, relief, I spot her, and she looks at me with those eyes. She beckons for me to come. She calls me, “Grandpa!” And gives such a smile! The joy I feel is beyond words.

This must be the way my Lord feels every time I reach out to Him in prayer. I thank Him right then and there, for His love, for my granddaughter, for the love He has taught me to feel. Then I realize further that of course, He loves those other ninety-nine just as strongly. He will not let any one of them become lost either. He loves each one of them intimately. This mystery is too much for me. Why am I not in a state of joy all the time?

There is a humble little child in each human being on earth. Jesus tells me to not “despise one of these little ones”.

Please Lord, help me approach You with the helplessness of a child, totally dependent on You. Please help me somehow to see my little granddaughter in each person I meet. Let me respect and cherish the vulnerable, humble little child inside of each one of them. Let me care for them, even if they reject me. Enable me to pray for them. Help me to always have a smile ready for everyone I meet. Give me the courage to look them in the eye. Let me be forgiving, patient, understanding, concerned, but most of all, humble, like Jesus’ child in the Gospel, when I meet His people.

So who is the greatest in the Kingdom of God? I guess, in God’s loving eyes, each and every one of His children!

Orlando Hernandez