one such child

Monday, October 12, 2009 St. Seraphin of Montegranaro, Religious (Memorial)

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11 Psalm 98:1-4 Matthew 18:1-5

Matthew 18:5   "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me;

 

This may not look like an endorsement for infant baptism on the surface, but I think it is.  Those who deny that infant baptism is effective fail to understand what Jesus is saying here.  They rely on their intellect and their own faith to be the mechanism of their salvation.  But Jesus says that we must be as a child, and we must receive children.  That means that we must put away our pride and notion that somehow we earn the right to belong to Christ through our years of education and training.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to be humble as a child and turn from my prideful ways.

Amen