Friday March 27th - Dependence

DAILY BYTE

One year at Christmas, a good friend of mine brought her two month old infant over to my house for a bit of show and tell. And that’s really all it was – showing and telling – because all the baby could do was lay there, stare at you, and cry. At one particularly exciting time, we spent ten minutes watching him lay on the floor, coaxing him to roll over and finally, out of impatience, rolling him over ourselves.

Now, I am aware that this is how all babies are as infants, but every time I come into contact with one, I am again shocked by the humble way in which we all begin life on earth. Every time, I am surprised by how vulnerable we are, lacking virtually all responsibility and having virtually complete dependence.

In 18:14 of the Book of Luke, we find, “all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.” One cannot be much more humble than an infant, which is exactly who we find entering the story in verse fifteen.

People brought the humblest of the humble, the most vulnerable amongst us – infants – to Jesus so that he could touch them. Infants are unable to ask to be touched by Christ, and they can’t boast about their nearness to him. They could take away no obvious gifts from him - not even a blessing. Luke makes the point that they approached Christ with nothing to offer, and it was enough for them simply to be touched by Christ without deserving it or earning it.

When we look in the faces of infants, we see not a whole life of burdens ahead of them but a whole new life of possibilities. When we see their wrinkled, pudgy features, we see not the wrinkles of the weight of the world but the awe-inspiring creativity and good humour of God.

And when we care for them, feeding and clothing and coaxing them to roll over, perhaps we can see ourselves through the loving eyes of God. Do you think you could see yourself this way? As someone who need not bring anything to God but ourselves, sometimes carried by others to be touched with Christ’s grace and mercy?

PRAY AS YOU GO

God of all, you formed us in your image as little children with nothing to offer you but our very selves. Show us that this is enough and that your grace requires us simply to be humble, as we were in the beginning. Teach us to let you carry us, again, so that we may allow you to carry our burdens and so that we may look up into your face and keep our eyes focused on the love you offer us and the faithful, life-giving covenant you keep with us, our whole lives through and into eternity. Amen.

FOCUS READING

Luke 18:15-17

People were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they sternly ordered them not to do it. But Jesus called for them and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.”