{"id":10748,"date":"2014-01-01T11:59:53","date_gmt":"2014-01-01T16:59:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/standingonmyhead\/?p=10748"},"modified":"2014-01-01T11:59:53","modified_gmt":"2014-01-01T16:59:53","slug":"a-little-child-shall-lead-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/standingonmyhead\/2014\/01\/a-little-child-shall-lead-them.html","title":{"rendered":"A Little Child Shall Lead Them"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"\"<\/a>As we enter the new year remember the little way. Here\u2019s<\/a> my latest article for Aleteia\u2013a reflection on the Christ child and the need to be little.<\/p>\n

We are so used to hearing Jesus\u2019 teachings about children that we forget how radical they are. In the first century people did not have the sentimental view of children that we do. In their day a child was lower than a slave and only one step above the animals. That Jesus said everyone had to become like a little child would have seemed outrageous and bewildering. Wise old men held the highest rank. How could it be that one had to become small to enter the kingdom?<\/p>\n

Only after long reflection could the church understand that Jesus said we must become like a child because he first became a little child.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Pope Pius XII said of St Therese\u2019s little way that it was not just\u00a0a\u00a0way, but it is the only way. To enter the kingdom we must follow the little way of childhood. This means trusting completely in the good God as Father, walking innocently and joyfully and seeing ourselves as we truly are\u2013which is the heart of humility.<\/p>\n

If you haven\u2019t done so already, check out my book St Benedict and St Therese\u2013The Little Rule and the Little Way.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As we enter the new year remember the little way. Here\u2019s my latest article for Aleteia\u2013a reflection on the Christ child and the need to be little. We are so used to hearing Jesus\u2019 teachings about children that we forget how radical they are. In the first century people did not have the sentimental view […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":557,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10748","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nA Little Child Shall Lead Them<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"As we enter the new year remember the little way. Here's my latest article for Aleteia--a reflection on the Christ child and the need to be little. 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