Childlike Faith
Posted on: November 25, 2013
- In: Everyday Life | Faith | Holy Days | Parenting
- Comments Off on Childlike Faith
With the feast of Christ the King yesterday, the Year of Faith proclaimed by Pope Benedict XVI drew to a close. But the opportunity to grow in our faith remains.
At all Masses in our parish this past weekend, young people (including my son) presented themselves to the priest as candidates for confirmation and received a cross from the Catholic Women’s League and Knights of Columbus. When the candidates came forward, each presented a letter to the priest stating why he or she wanted to be confirmed. My son’s letter gave his reasons quite simply: “I would like to receive the sacrament of confirmation in the spring. It is important to me because I want to grow in my faith and it is what I want to do.”
By expressing himself in words that were clear and honest and showed that his heart told him to follow his faith—even though he knew that not everyone in our extended family would support his being confirmed in the Catholic Church—my son demonstrated the childlike faith Jesus teaches us to have in Luke 18:16-17*:
“Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
The young people rushing to line up to present their letters, and the boys and girls who excitedly processed into the sanctuary at last weekend’s welcome Masses for children preparing to celebrate First Eucharist, also showed the congregation that they wanted to grow in their faith and were eager to let us know it.
Just as we can model for our children and youth how to live out their faith, so they can model for us how to find joy in growing in our faith. How to be more open about our faith. How to welcome Jesus when he knocks at the door of our hearts:
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).
I pray that we would let the children come to Jesus, but even more, that we would encourage them on their faith journeys and let their simple faith inspire us on ours.
(*Scripture quotes taken from the Holy Bible, Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition.)
A Catholic Convert in Ottawa 