“Whoever humbles himself like this child

Is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.

And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.”

Matthew 18:1-5, 10, Daily Reading, NAB

Humility as virtue. Humility as the gateway to eternity. Yes and yes. Got it. It’s a concept we are all familiar with and most assuredly know that Jesus was quite consistent and persistent on the point.

But what of the example he uses with his disciples, of bringing a small child over to them and stating, in addition to the obvious humility reference, that we are to “receive one child such as this”? Doing so, in Christ’s name, is to receive Christ himself.

What one child can we receive?

The abandoned child without parents who wanders through foster homes seeking love and belonging?

The child separated from family while crossing a border?

The child without food or shelter, living in nearly constant fear?

The child bordered in the local emergency room for days awaiting treatment?

The child denied an opportunity to even just be?

These are the children. These are our children. How can we receive them?