Do you know how to swim? Lots of people do, lots of people don’t. For those who do, they probably don’t think twice about jumping into the ocean, but i’m sure it’s much different for those who don’t quite know what they’re doing. Imagine a young child who had never stepped foot in a swimming pool, standing at the edge, while her father is in the deep waters with arms stretched out saying encouragingly, “Come on! Jump in! You can do it!” Although unsure, and maybe somewhat fearful, she jumps – simply because she trusts her father with her whole life.
At times our faith is tested like that of a child learning how to swim. When we know the Father is calling us to something, do we leap into His arms without hesitation like a child would? Or do we, upon seeing the scary and unknown waters, dip one foot in while keeping one foot firmly on the ground? She knows and believes with utmost faith and trust that he will be there, that he will help her, and will teach her the way.
Yesterday’s Gospel (from Tuesday August 11th) reminds us to have a child-like faith. The kind that doesn’t doubt, or question, or fear, but one that is humble and trustingly leaps into our Father’s arms. We may not always know what we are doing, and may not always have control, but we have it in us to believe, to trust, and to have faith.
Lord, may we trust You enough to jump in with both feet, our whole heart, and our whole being.
The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?” He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven. Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me. “See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven always look upon the face of my heavenly Father. What is your opinion? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray? And if he finds it, amen, I say to you, he rejoices more over it than over the ninety-nine that did not stray. In just the same way, it is not the will of your heavenly Father that one of these little ones be lost.” [Matthew 18: 1-5,10,12-14]