“Unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.”

Today, Jesus gives us one of the most important lessons for our spiritual journey: “Unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.” Jesus is not asking us to become childish, but childlike, humble, trusting, dependent on God, willing to learn, and free from the pride that makes us believe we can live without God. The disciples were concerned about who was the greatest. Jesus responds by placing a child among them. In God's Kingdom, greatness is not measured by position, influence, wealth, or recognition. True greatness is found in humility, service, and dependence on God. The first reading gives us another beautiful image. Ezekiel is asked to eat the scroll containing God's word. He accepts it, and what initially contains “lamentation and wailing” becomes sweet like honey. This teaches us that when we receive God's word with an open and humble heart, even difficult things can become instruments of grace. The Psalm echoes this: “How sweet to my taste is your promise!” Today we celebrate Saint Clare, who lived this childlike trust in a radical way. She surrendered worldly security and chose Christ as her treasure. She embraced simplicity, prayer, poverty, and complete dependence upon God. Her greatness was not in possessing much, but in allowing God to possess her completely. Jesus also reminds us that the Father does not want even one of His little ones to be lost. Therefore, we must never despise the weak, the struggling, the young, or those who have wandered away. Like the Good Shepherd, we are called to search, welcome, forgive, and bring people home. Today, let us ask ourselves: Have I become too proud to listen? Too independent to depend on God? Too concerned about being recognized? Saint Clare teaches us that holiness begins when we make ourselves small enough for God to become great in us. May we become like children, not childish, but humble enough to learn, trusting enough to surrender, and loving enough to serve.